The Positive Emotional Attractor (PEA) is described by positive emotions, being aroused in the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS), and neural activation of the Default Mode Network. The Negative Emotional Attractor (NEA) is described by negative emotions, being aroused in the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS), and neural activation of the Default Mode Network. Sustained desired change almost always starts in the PEA. Sustained desired change seems to require more frequently being in the PEA than the NEA. Basic Learning Points
- The PEA is: a. Being in PNS arousal; feeling positive and hopeful, thinking about the future, dreams, and possibilities; b. Being optimistic, focusing on one’s strengths; c. Excited about trying something new, experimenting; and d. Being in resonant relationships.
- The NEA is: a. Being in SNS arousal; feeling negative and fearful; thinking about the past or present, expectations of others and problems; b. Being pessimistic, focusing on one’s weaknesses; c. Feeling obligated to things you “should” or are “expected by others” to do, like a performance improvement plan d. Being in dissonant relationships.
- Sustained desired change tends to start in the PEA.
- To sustain learning or change efforts, it is likely that you have to spend 3-6 times more in the PEA as the time spent in the NEA. This is to compensate for the observation that negative emotions are stronger than positive. We need stress, but most of the time, we are exposed to too much of it.
- We need the NEA to survive and the PEA to thrive.
- You can attempt to create a tipping point and move into the PEA by arousing hope, compassion, mindfulness, or playfulness.
Physiology of PEA and NEA
Description Being in the NEA state is defined as being aroused in the endocrine system called the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS). Repeated, annoying stress events, like dropping a cell phone call, creates an overload, called strain. Under these conditions of strain, we lose cognitive processing capability, neurogenesis is inhibited, we lose creativity and openness to new ideas, our immune system is inhibited, and we are cognitively, perceptually and emotionally impaired. The antidote is arousal of the endocrine system known as the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). In the PNS, the opposite effects of the SNS are observed. Basic Learning Points
- Stress activates the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS), whether the stress is annoying but mild or acute which includes: a. Secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline/noradrenaline) which, at these dosage levels, are vaso-constrictors. It lulls blood from distal capillaries and extremities to send it to large muscles groups need for survival (epinephrine to your arms; norepinephrine to your legs). b. As a result, your pulse rate and blood pressure increases, your breathing gets faster and shallower. c. You also secrete corticosteroids, eventually cortisol enters your blood stream. d. As a result, besides being a natural anti-inflammatory, cortisol diminishes the functioning of your immune system and inhibits neurogenesis.
- Chronic, annoying stress (losing a cell phone call) causes your body to activate and prepare for defending itself but also results in cognitive, perceptual and emotional impairment.
- Renewal is activated by the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) which includes: a. Stimulation of the vagus nerve and secretion of oxytocin (primarily in females) and vasopressin (primarily in males). At this dosage level, these are vaso-dilators. They open your blood flow. b. As a result, you feel warmer, your blood pressure and pulse rate drop, your breathing slows down and gets deeper. You engage your immune system to its fullest capability.
- Without regular and periodic renewal experiences, chronic stress will make your performance non-sustainable.
When people engage in analytic tasks, like financial, engineering, IT, or physics problems, they activate the Task Positive Network (TPN) in their brain. The TPN enables a person to focus, solve a problem, and make a decision, but it closes a person perceptually to new ideas, possibilities and people.
When people engage in social tasks, like helping another person, arguing with them, asking someone for help, they activate the Default Mode Network (DMN) in their brain. The DMN enables a person to be open to new ideas, people or emotions, tune into others and moral considerations, but might leave a person open to distractions.
The TPN and DMN are, on the whole, independent networks, and they suppress each other. But as professionals, managers and leaders, we need to use both the TPN and SN/DMN to be effective.
fMRI studies show that spending 30 minutes in a conversation about the PEA, in terms of a person’s vision or dream, activates regions of the brain associated with imagining new things, the DMN, and more PNS (Parasympathetic Nervous System) activity.
A second fMRI study of PEA versus NEA coaching replicated these findings and showed that more PEA discussions with a coach activated additional regions associated with PNS or renewal.
Experiences that activate the parasympathetic nervous system
The first four also produce or enhance resonant relationships: a. Mindfulness: meditation; yoga, tai chi; prayer if you are praying to a loving God (not a vengeful or blaming one); moderate and consistent physical exercise b. Compassion: being in a loving relationship; having pets you can pet (i.e., dogs, cats, monkeys or horses- not fish); volunteering and helping those less fortunate; helping family members, especially elderly or disabled; c. Hope: thinking and talking with others about a future dream, personal or shared; being hopeful about the future; d. Playfulness: laughing with others; and e. Walking in nature