Table of Contents
Why is expressive writing important?
Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity. These effects of writing as a tool for healing are well documented. Expressive writing has been shown to reduce general anxiety (Alparone, Pagliaro, & Rizzo, 2015; Hines, Brown, & Myran, 2016; Smyth & Pennebaker, 2008; Van Emmerik, Kamphuis, & Emmelkamp, 2008), depression (Frattaroli, Thomas, & Lyubomirsky, 2011; Lepore, 1997) and ruminative thoughts (Gortner, Rude, & Pennebaker, 2006) … Expressive language is outgoing communication that a person can use to communicate their needs, wants, feelings and thoughts. Writing is also a form of expressive language we can use to communicate information and express ourselves. BENEFITS OF EXPRESSING EMOTIONS Improves the ability to connect with self and others leading to healthier and happier relationships. Improves decision making and ability to solve problems. Increases resilience. Reduces stress. Writing down and performing your thoughts can serve to transform the intangibility of your emotions and experiences into something more. They serve as a way for you to make your feelings tangible and real. Andrea Gibson, a well-known poet, says “[Writing is] the one place where the world makes more sense to me. People respond emotionally to emotion. And expressiveness allows us to communicate on the emotional level.
Is expressive writing creative writing?
Generally, though, poetry refers to writing that is highly personal and expressive. Therefore, when I use the phrase “expressive writing” I am using it as synonymous with what, in the U.S., we most often term “creative writing,” which includes fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction (or the personal essay). Expressive writing involves writing about how you felt during a particular event versus what happened. It is a much more intimate and emotional style of journaling than what we typically think of when it comes to journaling (Pennebaker, 2013; (Nazarian & Smyth, 2013). Expressive writing is personal and emotional writing without regard to punctuation, verb agreement, or other technical aspects of writing. 1. Expressive Text The core of the expressive text function is the mind of the speaker or the writer.
What are elements of expressive writing?
The three basic steps of expressive writing – prewriting, composing, and revising – have to be taught explicitly. Written expression refers to a highly complex, cognitive, self-directed process. Higher order components include planning, translating (drafting), reviewing and revising. Self-expressive writing is often used in therapeutic settings where people are asked to write about their thoughts and feelings related to a stressful event. The four main types of writing styles are persuasive, narrative, expository, and descriptive. In this blog post, we’ll briefly explore the defining features of these four writing styles.
Who created expressive writing?
Expressive writing is a form of writing therapy developed primarily by James W. Pennebaker in the late 1980s. The seminal expressive writing study instructed participants in the experimental group to write about a ‘past trauma’, expressing their very deepest thoughts and feelings surrounding it. Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity. These effects of writing as a tool for healing are well documented. The three basic steps of expressive writing – prewriting, composing, and revising – have to be taught explicitly. Further, mediational analyses suggested that expressive writing works to boost working memory only when a person has fewer intrusive and avoidant thoughts. Finally, as in the first experiment, working memory improvements were again associated with higher GPAs, as were reductions in intrusive thoughts. A great strength of the expressive personality is that they are very outgoing. Likewise, expressive people are ambitious, charismatic, and persuasive. However, they can also be disorganized, undisciplined, loud, and incredibly talkative. Expressives can talk up to 200 words a minute with gusts up to 300.
What is expressive writing pedagogy?
Expressive writing is writing in which the writer is her/his own audience. It need be evaluated by no one other than the writer. Transactional writing, in comparison, is the communication of previous learning performed for others. Expressive writing is not creative writing; it is the thought process made visible. The Expressive Style: Enthusiastic & Emotional People with an expressive communication style can appear to react impulsively and openly show both positive and negative feelings. They are typically described by others as personable, talkative and sometimes opinionated. The Expressive personality, a verbally adept personality, is engaging, accommodating, supportive of others, persuasive, socially adept, and relationship- rather than task-oriented. The Expressive Style People with an Expressive Style tend to be more willing to make their feelings known to others. They can appear to react impulsively and openly show both positive and negative feelings. They are typically described by others as personable, talkative and sometimes opinionated. Expressive Language: Talking and Listening. The difference between receptive and expressive language comes down to talking and listening.
What is expressive writing example?
An example of expressive writing in a personal journal is the famous Diary of Anne Frank, which gives perspective on emotion in a critical period of time. Essays and memoirs are also forms of expressive writing. The expressive purpose is used to communicate, or express, the personal feelings or thoughts of the writer. This kind of writing is concerned primarily with the writer as an individual. Much expressive writing could be termed anecdote. Expressive language is outgoing communication that a person can use to communicate their needs, wants, feelings and thoughts. Writing is also a form of expressive language we can use to communicate information and express ourselves. If you describe a person or their behaviour as expressive, you mean that their behaviour clearly indicates their feelings or intentions.
What kind of coping is expressive writing?
Expressive writing is a form of therapy in which individuals write about their thoughts and feelings related to a personally stressful or traumatic life experience. Expressive writing is sometimes referred to as written disclosure, because writers are instructed to disclose personal information, thoughts, and feelings. Expressive writing is writing in which the writer is her/his own audience. It need be evaluated by no one other than the writer. Transactional writing, in comparison, is the communication of previous learning performed for others. Expressive writing is not creative writing; it is the thought process made visible. Generally, though, poetry refers to writing that is highly personal and expressive. Therefore, when I use the phrase “expressive writing” I am using it as synonymous with what, in the U.S., we most often term “creative writing,” which includes fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction (or the personal essay). Expressive writing has been shown to reduce general anxiety (Alparone, Pagliaro, & Rizzo, 2015; Hines, Brown, & Myran, 2016; Smyth & Pennebaker, 2008; Van Emmerik, Kamphuis, & Emmelkamp, 2008), depression (Frattaroli, Thomas, & Lyubomirsky, 2011; Lepore, 1997) and ruminative thoughts (Gortner, Rude, & Pennebaker, 2006) …
What is expressive purpose?
The expressive purpose is used to communicate, or express, the personal feelings or thoughts of the writer. This kind of writing is concerned primarily with the writer as an individual. Much expressive writing could be termed anecdote. Expressive writing is a form of therapy in which individuals write about their thoughts and feelings related to a personally stressful or traumatic life experience. Expressive writing is sometimes referred to as written disclosure, because writers are instructed to disclose personal information, thoughts, and feelings. Expressive writing is a brief psychosocial intervention, also called written emotional disclosure. Expressive writing interventions are individually focused and designed to improve emotional expression and processing during adaptation to stressful situations. The goal is to improve psychological and physical health. Expressive text refers to written language forms such as narrative, poetry and metaphor that can be used as tools in research to vividly represent the meaning and feeling conveyed in an experience. This personality type emphasizes influencing or persuading others. Expressive personalities tend to focus on people, seek popularity and recognition, and need the spotlight. Positive descriptors or strengths include warm, friendly, responsive, compassionate, and generous.