Below is an emotional map that, IMHO, is convenient for the work of a practicing psychologist and is quite simple and understandable to a person who comes to a psychologist as a client. The described map includes 12 emotional spheres. The emotional sphere is a set of emotions that are close to each other in meaning or strategy for interacting with the outside world.
D To effectively read a map, you need to make several assumptions.
By emotion I mean a psychophysiological phenomenon that defines a situation or our attitude towards it (an indicative label), changes a person’s activity (that is, carries an energetic charge) and directs his perception, thinking and actions (motivates).
Within each sphere there are emotions, just differing in intensity. For example, fear and horror. Or there are emotions that have different meanings, but a similar attitude towards another person or situation. For example, envy and pride. These emotions have different meanings, but they both reflect your desire to be superior to the people around you (pride = “I am the navel of the earth,” envy = “I should have as much as the other person” / “the worse I am”).
At the same time, I am aware (and I advise you) that the separation of emotions is a rather conditional thing. After all, emotions can easily coexist with each other, that is, arise simultaneously. For example, a surprise can be both surprise and joy (or disappointment if you didn't like it).
Emotions can also easily combine to create a complex feeling. For example, jealousy combines: anger, fear, guilt and greed. However, in order for you to have a strong emotional foundation, such separation is simply necessary.
In addition, you have to remember the existence of homonyms (same spelling, but different meaning). Emotional homonyms also exist. So, for example, pity can relate to both the sphere of loneliness (I lack attention) and the sphere of superiority (I will help this unfortunate person). Or, for example, annoyance, which can be both in the sphere of loss of meaning (as the quintessence of disappointment) and in the sphere of conscience (when it comes to self-flagellation).
The location of emotional spheres on the map is largely determined by the fact that some emotional spheres are complete or partial antagonists to each other. Although this is a rather conditional assumption. After all, colors are the perfect metaphor for emotions. Yes, White color in many ways contrasts with black, and the warm part color palette- cold. But this only works for pairwise comparisons. In the painting, the colors are mixed into a unique pattern.
In the list within the sphere, emotions are arranged in order from less intense (background) to more intense (affects).
At the same time, emotions and feelings are located in the same area. This may not be the most correct approach from the point of view of a theoretical model, but it is very convenient in practice.
Sphere of satisfaction
Contentment - comfort - lightness - carefree - flight - playfulness - joy - pleasure - radiance - fun - happiness - grace - spirituality - euphoria - bliss - delight - ecstasy.
Sphere of Enthusiasm
Curiosity – interest – cheerfulness – hope – optimism – enthusiasm – confidence – strength – determination – involvement – encouragement – inspiration – anticipation – enthusiasm – excitement
Sphere of Peace
Peace – serenity – safety – tranquility – relief.
Sphere of Surprise
Confusion - bewilderment - surprise - amazement - miracle.
Sphere of Conscience
Humility - submission - embarrassment - guilt - shame - repentance - annoyance
Sphere of Solitude
Separation - pity - loneliness - emptiness
Sphere of Loss of Happiness
Dissatisfaction - nostalgia - concern - regret - sadness - melancholy - depression - unhappiness - suffering - lamentation - emotional pain - grief
Sphere of loss of meaning
Inertia - monotony - fatigue - boredom - satiety - boredom - bitterness - indifference - meaninglessness - despondency
Sphere of Fear
Worry - doubt - mistrust - wariness - alarm - confusion - fear - fear - helplessness - confusion - panic - despair - horror.
Sphere of Antagonism
Coldness - suspicion - irritation - opposition - rejection - anger - hostility - resentment - indignation - gloating - boycott - anger - hatred - rage - rage.
Sphere of Excellence
isolation - condescension - disdain - pity - ignoring - complacency pride - arrogance - hostility - condemnation - disobedience - envy - greed - contempt - disgust - venom - insult - humiliation - revenge - jealousy - betrayal
Scope of Acceptance
Consent - approval - benevolence - openness - gratitude - sympathy - attraction - respect - passion - affection - unity - tenderness - awe - tenderness - admiration - devotion - faith - love - adoration - reverence.
“Mental map... Esoteric again?” - I thought when I first read this title more than six months ago. Then I got into it and tried to draw my plans for the week in this format. It turned out surprisingly easy and interesting.
Here I could write that since then I began to use cards constantly, but this is not so. I forgot about them. And I remembered only in August, when I was planning a vacation trip. That's what came out of it.
What are mind maps
Several months passed after the first meeting with the cards. I planned my time: the Pomodoro timer was ringing, the Eisenhower Matrix was working, the calendar was replenished with tasks and colored in different colors. But I had the feeling that there was some other cool method, but I couldn’t remember it.And suddenly, having accidentally stumbled upon a review of services for mind maps, I realized what tool I was missing. The puzzle came together and away we go - a map for going to the store, for planning life goals, for work. Maps, maps, maps... They were blue and multi-colored, in mindmaps and on album sheets. Now the euphoria has subsided, and I use them more soberly. I'll tell you how and when.
Mind maps and me
These gizmos are effective where you need to sketch out a general vision of the situation and detail it step by step. With the help of maps, my colleagues create semantic cores, design a site map, conduct marketing research, generate ideas, prepare for presentations, organize events, plan a budget and simply make a to-do list for the week.
Where can I use the cards?
1. Working with information (presentations, speeches)
What am I doing
Using cards I collect information and sort it. What I know about the subject: properties, disadvantages, features, use - all this easily fits into the mind map scheme.
What should you do
Replace a boring lecture with a simple presentation and you will capture the audience's attention. Replace it with an interesting presentation and you will also win the respect of your audience.
2. Learning and remembering
What am I doing
The same as in the previous paragraph: I highlight the main issue, put it into sections. A huge plus of cards is that you can complete the drawings of branches if a new thought suddenly comes to mind. That's why I always draw with reserve. I’m not very friendly with services yet; I prefer a snow-white sheet of paper and colored markers.
What should you do
Create notes for lectures or books, write various texts (coursework, dissertations, articles), analyze the text. You can use detailed maps (1 map - 1 question), you can write down basic schemes.
By the way, most of you have seen something like mind maps in textbooks - these are flowcharts of the main questions of the course.
3. Brainstorming.
What am I doing
I come up with ideas (what to give for a holiday), solve problems (where to find time to study) - this is how cards help with brainstorming. I can draw cards alone or with colleagues, in any case it is effective.
What should you do
Maps for brainstorming are drawn as usual. In the center is the problem, large branches are solutions, small branches are features or consequences. If you need to generate ideas, then there will be a topic in the center, and the ideas themselves are large branches.
4. Decision making.
What am I doing
I am a logician to the core. Intuitive decisions are not my strong point. And here I have differences with Tony Buzan, the founder of the mind mapping method. It is believed that drawing and the use of symbols stimulate creative thinking, which means that the brain is tuned to search for an effective and non-standard way out of the situation (I don’t argue with that). And at such moments, intuition turns on and we make a decision based on it (here’s the catch).
Therefore, I simply write the problem in the center of the sheet, with branches of the 2nd level I designate all possible solutions, and with branches of the 3rd level I denote the consequences of these decisions.
What should you do
You write down the problem and turn it around from all sides, at the same time writing down everything that comes to mind. We organized our thoughts and saw the solution. Those who find it easier to handle facts and figures write them on branches. And whoever relies on intuition will bet on the associativity of the cards.
5. Planning.
Plan work and personal projects, budget or time.
What am I doing
First, I wrote down on the map all the books I want to read. Then I singled out from the book the form in which I would learn the material (synopsis, summary). And I created a similar goal on SmartProgress.
And then a big drawback of the cards emerged - it is difficult to tie them to deadlines. On a Gantt chart, for example, it is clearly visible which event should take place and when, and the temporal relationship of events is visible. And on the mind map you can only sign the deadline by which the task must be completed. In SmartProgress you can set intermediate deadlines, there are deadline reminders. So these two tools work well together.
What should you do
In the center of the sheet, indicate a goal, for example, “to celebrate a wedding anniversary.” And then write down the associations. Choosing a venue, list of guests, menu, budget, program - these are the key lines of your mind map. From each large ray, several more small rays depart, specifying who and in what way you will invite, what elements of the program will be, and who is responsible for them.
Why is this particular form advantageous?
Any incoming information must first be formed into an image. Then it will be remembered much easier and for a longer period. The role of cards is to organize, systematize, and visually present information. It doesn't matter whether you're planning an anniversary or organizing team work on a project, all the basic data can be fit on one large sheet.The larger the volume of the cerebral cortex is connected to the perception of information, the better it is remembered. The brain does not think linearly, but associatively, so for most people, mind maps are a suitable tool for planning or working with large amounts of data.
Pros and cons of mind maps
I have already written about the shortcomings - there is no interconnection with deadlines.And now about the advantages.
The brain first focuses on the key areas of the project. This helps you prioritize.
All main and auxiliary stages of the project are clearly visible. Contradictions, interference, and overlaps are also noticeable.
It is convenient to mark the paths already taken.
It’s easy to expand the project by adding new branches.
You can place heterogeneous elements on maps: megabytes coexist with the number of people.
What if you use mind mapping to plan goals? In combination with SmartProgress It turns out quite effectively. The main directions are determined on the map, and discipline occurs using the service.
How to build maps
Principles of drawing mapsIn the center of the sheet or a little higher, draw a central image (idea, goal, problem). Draw from it first-level branches (sub-ideas), with associations or key concepts that slightly reveal the central image. From the branches of the 1st level, take the branches of the 2nd level. If necessary, add 3rd level branches.
12 Tips for Drawing Maps
1. Include imaginative, creative thinking and associative skills. This helps the brain approach a problem from different angles and look for an unusual but effective solution.
2. Use different colors of branches to separate directions of work. If this is a map with tasks for employees, mark the branches with a specific color for each project participant. There should be no more than 8 colors so as not to get confused. The most high speed perception in red, yellow and orange flowers. The lowest is in brown, blue and green.
3. The number of branches of 2 and subsequent levels should not be more than 5-7.
4. The map reflects the style of thinking, so do not try to standardize it.
5. Exaggerated examples are better remembered. Therefore, feel free to draw unusual pictures.
6. Freehand drawing stimulates thinking. Despite the various convenient services, do not neglect white paper and markers.
7. Make images vivid and memorable so that they evoke emotions. This will help the brain work in the right direction.
8. Build the structure according to hierarchy: important concepts are closer to the center, details are further away. You can number the branches if necessary.
9. Less words, more drawings. If there are several words, then write them down in one line so that the eye does not make unnecessary movements.
10. Come up with your own symbols. Lightning is fast, eye is control, light bulb is important.
11. Draw the first level lines thicker to see the importance of actions. The length of the line is equal to the length of the word. Vary the size of the letters to emphasize the importance of the branch.
12. Delimit branches by drawing them into blocks, connecting them with arrows to show the relationship.
Services for mind maps
If you don’t like to draw by hand (and very wrongly!), then choose paid or free programs for drawing maps on your computer. They differ in design, methods of exporting images, the ability to connect To-do List, and compatibility with platforms.I use the online service MindMeister. It is combined with Meistertask (scheduler). Plus, you can connect paid PRO packages. The data is stored on the cloud, so I can load maps from any laptop. Bright, lots of possibilities for creativity, intuitive to use. There are templates, I don’t know who cares, but that’s enough for me for now.
Psychologists believe that it is best to draw by hand, activating creative thinking as much as possible, then you will think and solve problems much more effectively. And the modern rhythm of life suggests using any service you like. Well, it's up to you. But mind maps are a really cool tool, I recommend them.