Chapter 12: Emotions, Stress and Health

Theories of Emotion

Evolutionary Theory and Emotions
Cosmides and Tooby discuss the role of evolution in human emotions, including an evolutionary explanation for why we experience fear.

Emotions Anonymous
Emotions Anonymous is a twelve-step organization, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. It is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties.

Expressed Emotions

Exploring Nonverbal Communication
This site offers information on Nonverbal Communication. Why does the same gesture mean two different things depending on where you life? The answer is here.

Nonverbal Communication
This page introduces nonverbal communication and gives you a chance to try to guess the meaning of some REAL nonverbal communication.

Stress and Health

Understanding Stress
A simple guide to managing stress.

Children and Stress
From the Web site of The Royal College of Psychiatrists, this is one in a series of factsheets for parents, teachers and young people entitled Mental Health and Growing Up. This factsheet describes the anxiety children might feel, where it comes from, and how to help.

Finding Your BMI
This site explains Body Mass Index (BMI) and how to calculate own. Also included are links to calorie counting and weight control.

Promoting Health

Coping with Stress
The Canadian Mental Health Association offers ample information about stress, its causes, and tips for dealing with the mental and physical effects of stress.

Stress: Tips for College Students
The University of South Florida's Counseling Center for Human Development has posted an informative and supportive article for students dealing with stress.

Dealing with Everyday Problems
The National Mental Health Association's Web site offers advice for reducing or controlling stress.

International Size Acceptance Association
Check the International Size Acceptance Association here for more information and resources on anti-fat prejudice.

Social Acceptance and Stress
From Good Health Magazine, this article discusses how having a social network of friends may help you deal with stress. Suggestions about how to strengthen your safety net are offered.