-
THE CONCEPT OF EMOTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
The emotional responsibility is understood as the ability to to recognise, manage and act with integrity, honesty and empathy towards one’s own emotions and those of others within a relationship. This attitude involves taking responsibility for the potential emotional consequences that may arise from our words, actions or decisions when interacting with other people.
Contrary to the belief that it is about pleasing or satisfying all of the other person’s emotional needs, emotional responsibility is based on clarity, consistency and empathy. This involves avoiding emotional manipulation, not creating false expectations, and fostering open, honest and respectful communication. Its aim is to build healthier and more equitable relationships, where both parties feel valued and understood.
-
THAT IS NOT EMOTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
It’s not about pleasing others all the time.
It’s not about taking on other people’s emotions
Everyone is responsible for managing their own emotions.
It’s not about avoiding conflict at all costs.
It’s not about feigning emotions or feelings you don’t actually have
It’s not about staying in a relationship at any cost
It’s not about dismissing the other person’s feelings.
It’s not right to toy with other people’s hopes.
It’s not about expecting others to guess what we’re feeling, what we need or what we’re thinking.
*If we recognise this attitude in ourselves, we must correct it.
-
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EMOTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
The emotional responsibility It focuses on how our words and decisions can affect the people with whom we have a close bond, such as partners, friends, family members or colleagues. Its aim is to foster relationships based on empathy, honesty and mutual respect.
On the other hand, emotional responsibility relates to an individual’s ability to recognise, accept and manage their own emotions in a healthy way. It involves accepting that each person is responsible for what they feel and for the way they respond emotionally to the situations they experience, without blaming others for their reactions.
Examples:
- Emotional Responsibility: Communicating honestly when you no longer wish to continue a relationship, rather than disappearing or leaving the other person in the dark.
- Emotional Responsibility: Recognising that the sadness or anger you feel after a break-up is your own, without blaming the other person for ‘making me feel bad’.
-
EMOTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS.
- In family relationships.
Family dynamics can be a source of emotional security or, conversely, of suffering, if they are not managed properly. This means:
– Respect individual differences.
– Avoid emotional blame.
– Practise active listening.
- In friendships.
In this kind of relationship, there is mutual emotional care, without taking advantage of trust or unrealistic expectations.
– Respect individual differences.
– Avoid making empty promises.
– Respect other people’s schedules and needs.
- In romantic relationships.
Establish clear agreements and communicate expectations, being honest whilst taking others’ feelings into account.
– Respect emotional boundaries.
– Avoid emotional manipulation.
– Be honest about your intentions.
- In industrial relations.
In this case, emotional responsibility extends to colleagues, subordinates and/or superiors.
– Avoid passive-aggressive communication.
– Communicate assertively.
– Do not project your own emotions onto others.
-
KEY ASPECTS OF HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
- Active empathy: active listening, emotional recognition and shared perspective.
- Assertive and Clear Communication: be direct and honest, avoid making assumptions, and encourage feedback.
- Consistency between words and actions: avoid making empty promises, act consistently and take responsibility for mistakes.
- Managing expectations: avoid setting unrealistic expectations, be honest from the outset, and set emotional boundaries.
- Respect for one’s own and others’ boundaries: respecting people’s emotional needs, not intruding on others’ emotional space, and not forcing conversations.
- Honesty and transparency: communicating changes in feelings, avoiding ambiguity and being clear about one’s intentions.
- Emotional self-care: recognising your own emotions, looking after your mental health and avoiding emotional self-sacrifice.
-
DO YOU KNOW WHAT ‘GHOSTING’ IS? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ‘GHOSTING’?
Ghosting is the sudden disappearance, without explanation, and a complete breakdown in communication with another person. This happens because the person has a strong aversion to conflict, employs strategies of control and manipulation, or may simply lack maturity.
When you ghost someone, you cause psychological effects in the other person, such as: confusion, anxiety, obsession, damage to their self-esteem, and possibly difficulty in moving on.
*If you tend to ghost people, seek professional help to identify the reasons behind this behaviour and why you do it.
