James Fitzgerald Therapy PLLC

A Model for Describing Emotions

In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the “Model for Describing Emotions” is a straightforward, step-by-step diagram that helps you see how an emotion gets set in motion and then unfolds over time. This model not only illustrates the process of emotional activation but also emphasizes the various components involved, such as triggers, physiological responses, thoughts, and behaviors, which all play crucial roles in shaping how emotions are experienced. By breaking emotions into specific parts, you can more clearly identify where you might intervene to regulate or change an emotional response, empowering you to manage your feelings with greater awareness and control. Additionally, understanding this model can foster improved self-compassion, as you gain insights into the natural occurrence of emotions and learn to respond to them in healthier ways, ultimately leading to enhanced emotional intelligence and resilience in daily life.

Here is a brief overview of the main components in the model:

Vulnerability Factors
These are the conditions that make you more sensitive or reactive to an emotional trigger. Examples might include being physically run-down, stressed, hungry, or experiencing ongoing conflict. When vulnerability factors are high, you’re more likely to experience intense emotional responses.

Prompting Event
This is the situation or trigger—something that you notice in your external environment or inside yourself—that prompts an emotional reaction. A prompting event might be something someone says or does, a memory, a thought, or a physical sensation (like sudden pain).

Interpretation
After noticing the prompting event, you make sense of it with thoughts, judgments, and assumptions. These interpretations heavily influence the emotion you experience. For instance, interpreting a friend’s short text reply as “I must have done something wrong” can intensify feelings of anxiety or sadness.

Biological Changes & Experiential Shifts
Emotions bring about immediate shifts in the body—heart rate changes, muscle tension, changes in breathing, and so on. Internally, you might feel “heated,” “tight,” or “heavy,” or you might notice a rush of energy.

Expression & Action Urges
Each emotion has common expressions (like facial expressions, tone of voice, body language) and common urges (what the emotion “pushes” you to do). For example, anger might give you an urge to yell or confront someone; fear might urge you to avoid or escape.

Aftereffects
These include lingering emotional sensations, changes in thinking, or new problems that arise because of how you reacted (e.g., if you stormed out of a room in anger, you might feel guilt or shame afterward). Aftereffects can also become new vulnerability factors that set you up for an intensified emotional response in the future.

Why This Model Matters

By meticulously mapping out each step in the emotional process—vulnerability factors, which can include past experiences and current stressors; prompting events that trigger these emotions; interpretations that shape how we perceive these events; physical changes that occur within our bodies; expressions and action urges that arise in response; and the aftereffects that linger—we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the DBT model. This structured approach not only illuminates the intricate “chain” of events but also empowers individuals to identify patterns in their emotional responses. By recognizing how each component influences the next, one can develop strategies to effectively manage emotions, reduce distress, and enhance overall emotional resilience, leading to healthier interpersonal relationships and improved well-being.

Recognizing each link in that chain is essential if you want to insert a skill or strategy at any point to regulate the emotion effectively. This comprehensive understanding is foundational because it enables individuals to intervene proactively rather than reactively. It also highlights that changing how you interpret a situation can lead to significant shifts in emotional response. For instance, by learning to identify your body’s reactions sooner, you become more attuned to the early signs of emotional escalation, allowing you to address them before they become overwhelming. Furthermore, choosing different ways to act on the emotion, whether through positive self-talk, engaging in physical activity, or practicing mindfulness techniques, can alter not only the intensity but also the duration of that emotion, providing long-term benefits for emotional resilience and overall well-being. Such strategies equip you with the tools needed to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and understanding. This model is central to DBT emotion regulation work because it empowers you to understand and influence your own emotional life in a more nuanced, compassionate, and skillful way.

References:

• Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
• Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. The Guilford Press.