How Your Loved Ones Can Support Your Business

Empirical research underscores the importance of this distinction. Thus far, our review of theory and research on moral emotion has focused on the self-conscious emotions of shame, guilt, embarrassment, and pride. These emotions vary in valence and in attributions regarding the particular source of offense (e.g., self versus self’s behavior).

A loved one trying to manage emotional turmoil may have less mental capacity for dealing with their usual responsibilities. Comparing a loved one’s difficulties with problems faced by other people often happens inadvertently, as an attempt at consolation. Instead of searching for the perfect thing to say, go for what feels natural and genuine. An authentic expression of concern will likely mean far more to your loved one than a canned response or one devoid of true feeling.

Don’t judge or invalidate

Business owners may decide to take the leap and enter a partnership with a loved one or significant other. As mentioned earlier, 46% of people enter into a partnership with their spouse or partner and 96% of those people have said that they enjoy working together. Having a partner means a business owner can go over ideas with someone who knows the ins and outs of their industry.

Complimenting your partner in front of other people and speaking positively about them in front of their peers can make them feel great about themselves and you. One of the most important parts of supporting your partner is showing up for them and actively listening to what they have to say. Show you have interest in what they moral vs emotional support have to say and express love and support as they answer any questions you have. Use open-ended questions to evoke true discussion and let them say whatever it is they need to say. In these situations, trying to “fix” the problem for them may make the person feel frustrated or like they are wrong to feel upset about it.

How to Give (and Get) Emotional Support

Even if they ask for your honest opinion, avoid responding with harsh or negative criticism or tearing their plan apart. When a close friend or romantic partner believes they’ve found an answer to their problem, you might have some doubts about the effectiveness of that solution. Overdoing it can make people skeptical of the compliments, or even a little uncomfortable . Choose compliments that highlight specific strengths over empty compliments that might apply to anyone. Instead of simply saying “You’re so thoughtful,” pinpoint what makes them thoughtful and share your appreciation for that skill.

• Showing and providing moral support allows them to feel heard while helping them feel better about themselves and their situation.
• However, as a psychologist, I firmly believe that you are the expert on you.
• The capacity for guilt is more apt to foster a lifelong pattern of moral behavior, motivating individuals to accept responsibility and take reparative action in the wake of the occasional failure or transgression.
• When you provide student moral support, you’re encouraging students to try their hardest and giving them support whether they succeed or fall short.

Although pride may most often arise in response to scholastic, occupational, or athletic achievement, self-conscious experiences of pride in moral contexts may be an important component of our moral emotional apparatus. Feelings of pride for meeting or exceeding morally relevant standards may serve important motivational functions, rewarding and reinforcing one’s commitment to ethics of autonomy, community, and divinity. Another reason for these null findings may be that complex emotions surround not only the abusive act but also how the individual copes with the experience.

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Blaming others may help individuals regain some sense of control and superiority in their life, but the long-term costs are often steep. Friends, coworkers, and loved ones are apt to become alienated by an interpersonal style characterized by irrational bursts of anger. Moral standards represent an individual’s knowledge and internalization of moral norms and conventions.

• The relations of empathy-related emotions and maternal practices to children’s comforting behavior.
• Keeping your promises is an excellent way to show moral support.
• So, if you’re looking to cheer someone up, consider telling them what you appreciate about them.
• Historically, much social psychological theory and research was devoted to understanding the imperfect link between intentions (e.g., moral decisions) and behavior.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. A person might look into free online therapy or therapy options for people without insurance. Emotional support is working if the other person verbalizes that the support has been helpful or seems calmer or more hopeful afterward.

In fact, by crossing the two dimensions of focus and valence , one can conceptualize four categories of moral emotion (see Haidt 2003, following Ortony et al. 1988). To date most theory and research on moral affect has emphasized the negatively valenced self-conscious quadrant. Miller defines embarrassment as “an aversive state of mortification, abashment, and chagrin that follows public social predicaments” (p. 322).