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What do we tend to underestimate in regards to difficulties and emotions?

User OmerBTW
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Final answer:

We tend to underestimate the power of emotions, particularly how we are more negatively affected by losses than equivalent gains, as explained by the theory of loss aversion. In acting, the real challenge lies in emotional truthfulness and overcoming the natural inclination to mask emotions.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the complexities of emotions and difficulties, we often tend to underestimate the intensity and breadth of our emotional responses. Behavioral economics has given insight into this through the concept of loss aversion, as developed by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. This concept explains our tendency to feel the pain of a loss more acutely than the pleasure of a gain. For instance, losing a $10 bill may evoke stronger negative emotions than the pleasure of gaining an extra $10 in our paycheck, even though from a traditional economic standpoint, the two should cancel each other out, resulting in a neutral emotional state. Moreover, in the realm of acting, actors must navigate the intricacies of emotionally truthful performances, often confronting the human tendency to mask or inhibit full emotional expression. Vulnerability is challenging as we are inclined to protect ourselves from emotional exposure, which can be misinterpreted as weakness.

User Rabbott
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