Imagine the following scenario: You arrive at a social event, excited to see friends you haven’t seen for a while but as you walk in you overhear two of these friends saying negative things about you. Take a moment to respond to the following question:
What would you feel in this situation?
Anger Shame Sadness Contempt Worry Guilt Good humor Fear
In a study of 3,000 adults in different countries, the most common response to a similar question was anger (42.8%), followed by Sadness (38.3%). People also indicated Contempt (23.8%), Good Humor (14.2%), Worry (5%), Shame (4%), Guilt (2.3%), and Fear (.7%). The authors of the study note that their responses were obtained by giving a predetermined and limited list of options (the ones above). There are certainly other possible responses to such a scenario such as Rejection, Resentment, Surprise, Disappointment, Dismay, Irritation, Loneliness, Embarrassment, and a slew of others are all good candidates as well.
Recent Comments