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The IUP Journal of Soft Skills

“Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing”: What Makes Men and Women Experience and React to Destructive Emotions at Work?

Article Details

Pub. Date	: Jun, 2019
Product Name	: The IUP Journal of Soft Skills
Product Type	: Article
Product Code	: IJSS31906
Author Name	: Rita Rangnekar and Sumeet Manerikar
Availability	: YES
Subject/Domain	: Management
Download Format	: PDF Format
No. of Pages	: 21

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Abstract

Destructive emotions and their propensity to distort mental equilibrium have been well-researched in Buddhist philosophy, especially, the works and teachings of the Dalai Lama, who has extensively written about various ways in which strong feelings and emotions create ‘havoc’ in the minds and hearts of people. This study examines the differences in the experience of and reactions to destructive emotions in men and women. The study looks into an association between the experience of destructive emotions and the intensity of the experience, reactions and triggers at work with respect to gender. The study is based on empirical research conducted through a quantitative analysis of data collected from 110 employees or working professionals. The findings show that all factors trigger destructive emotions at work and that different genders react differently to destructive emotions at work. There is a difference in the way men and women are provoked by destructive emotional state and how they react.

Description

Destructive emotions and their propensity to distort mental equilibrium have been wellresearched through studies in Buddhist philosophy especially, the works and teachings of the Dalai Lama, who has identified various ways in which strong feelings and emotions create ‘havoc’ in the minds and hearts of people (which have been termed as “destructive emotions”). The Dalai Lama’s Discourses with Daniel Goleman in the book Destructive Emotions: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama, describes the emotions, various fields and contexts in which it works, the mechanism of the mind and the brain and its functioning during the experience. The book also suggests spiritual avenues of overcoming and controlling destructive emotions. Mindful meditation has been suggested in most cases. However, it would be worth finding out how men and women react differently to destructive emotions, especially at work.