Chapter 2 50 cognitive development (see Table 2). Each consecutive level in the model represents a more advanced, more ‘complex’ type of awareness of emotion: 1) awareness of visceral activation, 2) awareness of action tendencies, 3) conscious awareness of one feeling at one time, 4) awareness of a blend of feelings at one time, 5) awareness of different blends of feelings in self and other (see Table 2). As we will demonstrate, within this model, the body is the “first essential building block” of emotional awareness. Figure 1 show that the five levels are linked to various (more or less hierarchically organized) brain regions, including the brainstem, the diencephalon (“interbrain”), the limbic system, paralimbic structures and parts of the (pre)frontal cortex. Figure 1 also shows how emotional processing still occurs unconsciously (implicit) at the first levels and progresses to a conscious (explicit) experience at the higher levels. From a psychological perspective, level 1 is about ‘affects’: automatic reactions that are elicited by the central nervous system. Level 2 concerns the behavioral expression of affect: approach or avoidance from the (implicit) awareness that something is pleasant or unpleasant. At this level, emotions are still expressed in a non-verbal way in the form of (automatic) gestures or facial expressions. From level 3 on, basic emotions are experienced consciously. As a result of an (implicit) selection procedure by the brain of the most appropriate emotional scheme, conscious attention is directed towards the experience which enables one to recognize the emotion – given the emotion is present in a sufficiently pronounced form. At level 4 there is reflective awareness of emotions. Emotions can be distinguished from each other and opposing emotions can be integrated through a narrative that fits the context and self-image of the person. Blended feelings (for example a mix of regret and relief) can be experienced, tolerated, and communicated. In contrast to the previous levels, this is not about a phenomenal, “passive” consciousness; instead, it concerns the active cognitive processing of the social-emotional reality that is being experienced. In other words, this is where (affective) mentalizing takes place. At the fifth level there is a profound ability to experience blends of emotions, from one’s own perspective and that of the other(s). In other words, subjective feelings are ambivalent and one realizes that the other person(s) can experience the situation in their own way, which differs from one’s personal perception. Someone who usually functions at level 5 is capable of both cognitive and affective (i.e., reasoned and felt) empathy. Within the Levels of Emotional Awareness model, emotional awareness is considered a relatively stable personality trait. So, it presumes that people who tend to function at level 3, do so in all situations. However, it is conceivable that under certain circumstances (e.g., when undergoing significant stress) one would revert to earlier development levels [92]. It is also conceivable that within particularly close relationships with high levels of psychological safety and intimacy, higher levels of emotional awareness can be attained. A final comment about this model is that one
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