Emotions and Moods

1. EMOTIONS - WHY EMOTIONS
WERE IGNORED IN OB
 The “myth of rationality”
 Organizations are not emotion-free.
 Emotions of any kind are disruptive to
organizations.
 Original OB focus was solely on the effects of
strong negative emotions that interfered with
individual and organizational efficiency.

2. WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?
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Moods
Feelings that tend to be
less intense than
emotions and that lack a
contextual stimulus.
Emotions
Intense feelings that are
directed at someone or
something.
Affect
A broad range of emotions
that people experience.

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4. EMOTION DIMENSIONS
 Biology of emotions
 Originate in brain’s limbic system
 Intensity of emotions
 Personality
 Job Requirements
 Frequency and duration of emotions
 How often emotions are exhibited
 How long emotions are displayed
 Functions of emotions
 Critical for rational thinking
 Motivate people
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The limbic system is a set of evolutionarily
primitive brain structures located on top of the
brainstem and buried under the cortex. Limbic
system structures are involved in many of our
emotions and motivations, particularly those
that are related to survival. Such emotions
include fear, anger, and emotions related to
sexual behavior. The limbic system is also
involved in feelings of pleasure that are related
to our survival, such as those experienced from
eating and sex.

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Mood as Positive and Negative Affect

6. SOURCES OF EMOTIONS
AND MOODS
Personality
Day and Time
of the Week
NOT Weather
Stress
Social Activities
Sleep
Exercise
Age
Gender
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7. GENDER AND EMOTIONS
 Women
 Can show greater emotional expression.
 Experience emotions more intensely.
 Display emotions more frequently.
 Are more comfortable in expressing emotions.
 Are better at reading others’ emotions.
 Men
 Believe that displaying emotions is inconsistent with the male
image.
 Are innately less able to read and to identify with others’ emotions.
 Have less need to seek social approval by showing positive
emotions.
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8. EXTERNAL CONSTRAINTS ON
EMOTIONS
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Organizational
Influences
Cultural
Influences
Individual
Emotions

9. EMOTIONAL LABOR
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Emotional Labor
A situation in which an employee expresses
organizationally desired emotions during
interpersonal transactions.

10. FELT VERSUS DISPLAYED
EMOTIONS
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Felt Emotions
An individual’s actual emotions.
Displayed Emotions
Emotions that are organizationally
required and considered appropriate
in a given job.

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•Internals (Internal locus of control)
Individuals who believe that they
control what happens to them.
Note: Higher
emotional labor =
more highly paid
jobs (with high
cognitive
requirements)

12. AFFECTIVE EVENTS THEORY
(AET)
 An event in the work environment triggers positive or
negative emotional reactions
 Personality and mood determine response intensity
 Emotions can influence a broad range of work variables
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13. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
 Self-awareness (know how you feel)
 Self-management (manage your emotions and impulses)
 Self-motivation (can motivate yourself & persist)
 Empathy (sense & understand what others feel)
 Social Skills (can handle the emotions of others)
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Research Findings: High EI scores,
not high IQ scores, characterize high
performers.

14. ANY QUESTIONS?
 Any questions so far?