Chapter 4

Adolescents are at a highly suitable developmental stage to engage in a deep exploration of emotions. In SEE Learning®, students are given opportunities to explore emotions both directly and through different models, so they can develop what can be called a “map of the mind”. A goal of Chapter 4 is for students to understand different mental states, such as emotions, and their characteristics. Understanding the map of the mind supports the development of emotional literacy. Emotional literacy supports student well-being and helps them to better navigate their own emotional lives. SEE Learning further allows students to make applied connections to the role of emotions in their lives by exploring the emotion timeline. Emotion timelines consist of the sequence of processes regarding emotion generation, emotion regulation, and the resulting behavior. Students also explore emotion families and how to develop strategies for dealing with “risky emotions,” or those which can lead to problems for oneself and others if left unchecked. With these experiences, students can become better equipped to exercise restraint from behaviors that harm themselves and others. Examining the role of emotions in our lives can help us further appreciate the value of cultivating good emotional hygiene, which involves interacting with our emotions in a healthy way rather than suppressing them.