Are You Emotionally Thick Or Thin Skinned?: Studio 5
Has someone accused you of being too sensitive or suggested that you grow a thicker skin? Or maybe you've heard that you're hard to read or that you're a tough nut to crack?Those comments may be clues to your style of processing emotions. how much of your environment you let into your being and how aware you are of your feelings.The boundary concept was developed and researched by Ernest Hartmann, MD, of Tufts University, and this concept was expanded further in the book Your Emotional Type by Michael A. Jawer and Marc S. Micozzi. Jawer and Micozzi's research further explore "thick and thin" emotional types, suggesting that our minds and our bodies are connected, and that our emotional type impacts our predisposition to certain health conditions. "Different people process their feelings in different ways--your emotional style is a fundamental aspect of who you are. It affects more than just your outlook on life; it can affect your very well-being," according to Jawer and Micozzi.Are YOU thick or thin skinned?
Take The Boundary Test
Thin skinned people:
Are more tuned in to feelingsReact strongly to senses (light, sound, touch, taste, etc.)Respond more strongly to pain in self and othersAre easily stressed or fatiguedAre more affected by childhood emotionsMore allergic and their immune systems are more reactive
Thick skinned people:
Are more tuned in with thoughtsLess impacted by physical environmentCan brush aside emotional upsets & remain calmSlower to recognize feelingsMay feel empty or detachmentDisconnected to childhood emotionsDon't actually feel their feelings any less but are less aware of them
Additional information:
Women tend to score thinner than men.Older people score thicker than younger people.Knowing your emotional boundary style can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.Understanding your loved one's style can help you empathize with the way they process emotions.One boundary style isn't better than the other.
Additional resources:
Book: Your Emotional TypeWebsite: YourEmotionalType.com