We have changed the table of 'Events, Distress Labels, Signs of Discharge' (in What Conditions Favour Pattern-disrupting Discharge?) which previously followed Harvey's table. These changes result from noting the practical experience of ourselves and others and the logic of the theory of emotions we are using.
Firstly we have added SHAME to the section on embarrassment. We think shame and embarrassment are the same emotion at different intensities. They represent the importance of other people to us--the negative side of being loving and caring for others as part of our nature. Laughter is always prominent at our workshops. We see it as crucial. Our own recognition of the importance of embarrassment, and consequently of laughter, was heightened by reading Tomkin's books on emotions [1] and talking to Tom Scheff [2] about his work on shame.
In line with this, our appreciation of working from strengths, and particularly the celebration of self, has been heightened. This fits in with Harvey Jackins' long time emphasis on the use of 'the complete appreciation of the self' as the most powerful direction for producing Discharge.
Secondly we have removed the line containing Boredom. We think the table contains those basic emotions for which we as humans have built-in Discharge processes; the 'coarse emotions' as Williams James called them. These are the negative emotions which fall into the top right quadrant of our Feelings Map. Boredom does not appear to belong here, either from theoretical considerations or in practice. We find that if class members scan times they've been bored, what commonly comes up is anger. This anger seems to be the response to frustration of being prevented from seeking stimulation. The label ' boredom' occurs, not in simple cases of lack of stimulation, but where more complicated distress patterns have already been set up.
Non-repetitive talking appears to relieve Distress by allowing lots of bits and pieces of Discharge of different types; rather than being a separate discharge process.
Thirdly we have had the confidence of our convictions and added Disgust as a primary emotion. We had previously suggested this in the section on Acting Into. We have since met more people who experience nausea as a psychological response---feeling they have taken in what is poisonous to them. Some people need to vomit to feel better. Others, including ourselves, find themselves spontaneously making retching and disgust noises. Both Tomkins [1] and Luthe [3] regard contempt/disgust as a primary emotion.
We have retained yawning as a discharge process for pain and tension, and note that psychologically it appears to be closely tied up with discharge of conflict, experienced as being stuck. Scheff also comes to this conclusion and adds emotional conflict to pain and tension as distresses discharged by yawning; this was not mentioned by Harvey in his original manual. We have experienced a vast increase in yawning, in and out of co-co sessions. This was unexpected as we had not seen it reported in Re-evaluation Counseling literature.
Yawning is an undervalued form of Discharge. Those new to co-counselling are surprised by yawning and can label it artificial. Recently we asked a group of therapists familiar with discharge methods what they thought about yawning as a discharge process. Initially they denied that yawning could have anything to do with progress in therapy. Then several of them told stories about clients, in which it was clear that yawning had been very significant.
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