Emotional closeness can be defined as the degree to which individuals share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with each other. It is an essential aspect of interpersonal communication that affects how people perceive and respond to others. Emotional closeness can have both positive and negative effects on stress-related changes in cognitive functioning. Research has shown that individuals who experience high levels of emotional closeness tend to perform better under stress than those who do not. This suggests that emotional closeness may help individuals cope with stressors more effectively.
Excessive emotional closeness can also lead to increased anxiety and depression, which can negatively impact cognitive functioning. In this article, I will explore the relationship between emotional closeness and stress-related changes in cognitive functioning.
When individuals are exposed to stressful situations, they often experience physical and psychological changes. The body's response to stress includes increased heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. These physiological changes can impair cognitive functioning, including attention, memory, and decision-making skills.
Research has shown that individuals who are emotionally close to others tend to handle stress more effectively.
A study conducted by Kumashiro et al. (2018) found that participants who felt emotionally connected to their partners were less likely to exhibit physiological signs of stress when faced with a difficult task compared to those who did not feel as close.
Emotional closeness can also impact how individuals process information during stressful situations. When individuals feel close to another person, they are more likely to be motivated to understand and interpret their experiences accurately. This can result in improved cognitive functioning, even under stressful conditions. A study by Gable et al. (2010) found that couples who reported higher levels of emotional closeness were more accurate at recalling details about an event than those who reported lower levels of closeness.
Too much emotional closeness can also have negative effects on cognitive functioning. Individuals who rely heavily on their partner for support may become overwhelmed or anxious if their needs are not met, leading to decreased cognitive functioning.
Excessive emotional closeness can lead to obsessive thoughts and behaviors, which can interfere with cognitive abilities such as problem-solving and decision-making.
The relationship between emotional closeness and stress-related changes in cognitive functioning is complex. While high levels of emotional closeness can help individuals cope with stressors more effectively, too much emotional closeness can lead to increased anxiety and depression, which can negatively impact cognitive functioning. Understanding this relationship can help individuals navigate the challenges associated with stress and maintain healthy relationships.
How does emotional closeness interact with stress-related changes in cognitive functioning?
Emotional closeness has been shown to influence cognitive functioning during times of high stress. In one study, participants who reported greater levels of emotional closeness to their romantic partner demonstrated improved memory performance on a challenging task when they were later exposed to stress compared to those who did not report such feelings (Murphy et al. , 2018).