Final answer:
Emotional responses to change vary widely and often include anxiety, elation, and reevaluation of relationships or self-perception. Events like changing a major, moving places, or experiencing loss can precipitate these emotions. Understanding such responses can also deepen empathy, particularly in relation to grief and loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
Observing Emotional Responses During Change
When significant change occurs, a variety of emotional responses can be observed, both in oneself and in others. These emotional responses are diverse and can include a changed attitude toward people in one's life, such as friends or family members. For instance, making a substantial shift in one's major represents a significant deviation from one's planned path, often eliciting strong emotions like anxiety or excitement.
Participation in groups and the implications of inclusion or exclusion can also provoke emotional reactions. For example, making or not making a sports team can lead to feelings of elation or disappointment. Similarly, discovering something new about oneself or someone else can influence one's self-perception and interpersonal relationships, sometimes leading to emotional growth or, conversely, to distress.
Emotional changes are rapid and can be linked to significant events, such as relocating to a new country or becoming fluent in a new language. Such changes may lead to a complex mix of emotions, from excitement to fear. Even the perception of someone we admire, or becoming friends with an unexpected individual, can bring about surprising emotions. Facing illness or crises is another context in which emotional responses play a critical role, and these responses can lead to either change or resilience.
Lastly, the Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief highlight a structured sequence of emotional reactions following loss. People often cycle through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, but not necessarily in this order or to the same degree. Processing a loss can facilitate empathy, especially when considering the experiences of elderly individuals who frequently confront loss.