Short circuit reaction: why you harm yourself

Content

Short circuit reaction Definition: head over heels
Short-circuit reaction: Psychology sees false reports as the cause
Consequences of the short-circuit reaction: Not automatic termination
Emotion control training: channeling feelings sensibly
compensation
deflection
attitude
Undo the short-circuit reaction
self reflection
Repentance
Peace offer
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Sometimes the measure is just full. Anyone who has been annoyed about something for a long time and always kept quiet will eventually have enough - then it can be Short circuit reaction come: In the greatest anger, the job is suddenly thrown out, doors slammed, and the partner is separated. The long sustained tension fizzled out within seconds. However, there may be a pile of broken glass in front of your feet. Short circuit reactions are actually not all that harmless. Why you are harming yourself with it and what you can do ...

Short circuit reaction Definition: head over heels

We know the term short circuit from electrics: Current flows between two poles of a voltage source without resistance - for example by a device that is operated with electricity - then a short circuit occurs. As a result of this short-circuit reaction, one often sits in the dark without electricity.

What is a short circuit reaction in relation to humans? What is meant is a reaction that consists of a short-circuit action. Transferred to the electrical short circuit, the short circuit reaction also lacks a resistance, namely usually in the form of the Prudence and reflection.

This reactive action is accompanied by strong, mostly short-lived emotions, so-called affects, such as anger and fear. Therefore, an act of affect is used synonymously with short-circuit reaction.

Short-circuit reactions are mostly caused by already longer simmering conflicts. It is the famous drop that brings the barrel to overflowing: A current occasion - such as a provocation - releases frustration or tension in a short-circuit reaction.

The background is often emotional attitudes such as:

Jealousy,
Disappointment,
Offendedness,
Vengeance.

Short-circuit reaction: Psychology sees false reports as the cause

Our brain is like a supercomputer: it has to come out of one all the time Variety of sensory impressions select which are passed on to consciousness and initiate appropriate actions. It is estimated that the eyes alone transmit at least 10 million bits to the brain in one second.

This selection is not made consciously, but it still has consequences, because sometimes decisions are made without the mind. This short-circuit reaction is like a false report on the computer. It is evoked by biochemical processes.

These can be disturbed in the process, for example with people lack of impulse control. This can affect people who suffer from a borderline disorder, for example.

Not infrequently they suffer from emotional instability, are very impulsive and prone to risky or aggressive behavior. Of course, not everyone who acts in a short circuit reaction has a serious mental disorder straight away. Nevertheless, there is a certain psychological profile in affect actions:

Tendency to violent reactions
irritability
Insecurity
Mood swings

A number of factors favor a short-circuit reaction, so that your own personality does not have to be the main criterion. For example, it is known that drugs and alcohol disinhibit. But lack of sleep also has drastic consequences:

A study by Swiss researchers examined this Risk behavior by male students. It showed that those with only five hours of sleep per night made significantly riskier decisions than the students in the control group who received sufficient sleep.

Another study that examined the relationship between Leadership skills and sleep behavior examined.

Unsurprisingly: Managers also need sleep. Otherwise irritable, moody behavior can often be observed, which leads to conflicts. Also be risky decisions - so short circuit reactions - like more often.

Consequences of the short-circuit reaction: Not automatic termination

From a legal and criminological point of view, a short-circuit reaction, if it is classified accordingly by a psychiatrist or psychologist, can lead to an incapacity for guilt. This is only the case with massive disturbances of consciousness decided.

Although most short-circuit reactions in professional life are still comparatively harmless, others can have criminal consequences. Unauthorized removal from the workplace after an argument with the boss could cost you the job:

Namely, when you have violated your duties so badly that further cooperation with you is unreasonable for your boss. Who in a short circuit reaction wild insults or even constitutes bodily harm, must expect termination without notice.

However, unauthorized removal from work after an argument does not have to end like this: When you are verbal and physical violence and instead have simply calmed your mind by taking a walk somewhere else.

Return to work the same day and take your work again or offer your boss to keep them done, it looks good for you. Even a sick leave the next day does not justify termination without notice (Ref .: 10 Sa 49/06).

So much for the labor law part. Depending on the extent of your short circuit, a Relationship irreparable damage take: Anyone who insults colleagues in the affect or throws things at their partner's head à la What I always wanted to tell you ..., accepts that there will be massive offenses.

Separations as a short circuit reaction or as a result of such behavior occur again and again. However, they also suggest that already previously something was wrong was - if only that there was not enough communication.

Emotion control training: channeling feelings sensibly

But what if you might be someone prone to impulsive actions? Perhaps you have seen blackouts more often? Especially those who are under high stress develop tunnel vision.

If various options are then not seen, this can result in a short-circuit reaction. You can prevent this by learning your Control emotions. How this can work:

compensation
If you notice that something is building up in you, you need compensation. How you design it depends on your personality. Exercise is a great way to let off steam. We work out, adrenaline is reduced, happiness hormones are released and at the same time we do something for our fitness. Others prefer a good conversation with friends and get valuable tips. And a third relaxes with meditation and relaxation exercises.
deflection
Distraction works best when other senses are involved. Unfortunately, the cold shower is rarely available in the office. A walk (quick step) in the fresh air is one possibility, because you get new sensory impressions. Or you can listen to this music that reduces stress by 65 percent.
attitude
Work on your general attitude. Joy of life and optimism will give you a feeling of certainty in the long run. The certainty that you can use your skills to maneuver yourself out of conflict situations. Those who are gracious to themselves are less likely to judge other people. As well as allowing other people to make mistakes, just as they happen to you every now and then.

Undo the short-circuit reaction

What if it does happen? Sometimes one word results in another. To straighten it again:

self reflection
The short-circuit reaction involves reacting faster than you could think. You can make up for this by practicing self-reflection: What just happened, why did I react that way, what triggered the behavior of the other person in me? Could I have overreacted? Is my reaction based on a misunderstanding?
Repentance
In fact, you may have been right about it: the point is how you communicate it. Showing repentance doesn't necessarily mean admitting that you are wrong. Rather, it means that you have reflected and that you find your behavior inappropriate at that point. This includes apologizing for the short-circuit reaction if, for example, you have become loud or otherwise reacted inappropriately.
Peace offer
Often people are more willing to talk when they are not only confronted with a problem, but an offer, a solution is made to them. Whatever the trigger for your short-circuit reaction, how do you approach the problem? Anyone who has problem-solving skills shows that they approach things constructively. The principle of good will is recognizable and makes a short-circuit reaction forgivable.