Abstract
Although movement has long been recognized as expressing emotion and as an agent of change for emotional state, there was a dearth of scientific evidence specifying which aspects of movement influence specific emotions. The recent identification of clusters of Laban movement components which elicit and enhance the basic emotions of anger, fear, sadness and happiness indicates which types of movements can affect these emotions (Shafir et al., 2016), but not how best to apply this knowledge. This perspective paper lays out a conceptual groundwork for how to effectively use these new findings to support emotional resiliency through voluntary choice of one's posture and movements. We suggest that three theoretical principles from Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) can guide the gradual change in movement components in one's daily movements to somatically support shift in affective state: (A) Introduce new movement components in developmental order; (B) Use LMA affinities-among-components to guide the expansion of expressive movement range and (C) Sequence change among components based on Laban's Space Harmony theory to support the gradual integration of that new range. The methods postulated in this article have potential to foster resiliency and provide resources for self-efficacy by expanding our capacity to adapt emotionally to challenges through modulating our movement responses.
Highlights
MECHANISMS FOR SOMATIC MOVEMENT’S EFFECTS ON EMOTIONSThe idea that certain postures and movements are associated with specific emotions is not new: The concept of expressing emotions through body language dates as far back as Aristotle (Lee, 2008)
empower people to exit the grip of intransigent emotions into less emotionally-laden states
They can be applied during individual therapy
Summary
The idea that certain postures and movements are associated with specific emotions is not new: The concept of expressing emotions through body language dates as far back as Aristotle (Lee, 2008). Laban’s theory of “Space Harmony” posits that moving in specific directions in Space naturally affines with specific Efforts (movement dynamics components, such as light, strong, sudden, sustained) and Shape components (changes in the body’s configuration, such as sinking, rising, spreading, retreating). Shape describes how the body sculpts itself in space: Modes of Shape Change are: Shape Flow: expanding or condensing; Directional Movement such as spoking or arcing; Shape Qualities: rise/sink, spread/enclose, advance/retreat; and Shaping/Carving. Phrasing describes how these movement components change intensity over time, such as increasing/decreasing or repeating rhythmically. The individual’s experience and clinician’s judgment about the timing and readiness for each change are crucial to support self-efficacy, so each person learns to use movement to self-regulate emotions in tandem with psychological insight in therapy
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