This article is devoted to the answer to the question of what is composure. For a better understanding, synonyms of this concept will be considered, as well as the reasons on which the presence or absence of this quality of personality depends. Particular attention will be paid to the problem of whether it can be developed at home and what is needed for this.
Definition
Composure is a concept that has both positive and negative meanings.
- As a personality trait, it is characteristic of people who are able to make balanced, adequate decisions in situations of stress. The latter is understood as the stress of the body (from the English stress - stress), its non-specific reaction to external adverse factors.
- In a negative context, composure is seen as the ability to commit cruel acts against other people or animals without displaying any emotions.
To better understand, consider both concepts with examples and select synonyms for each word.
Landing on the Neva
It was 1963. A Tu-124 plane with passengers on board flew from the airport in Tallinn. Even on takeoff, an emergency occurred - the chassis jammed. Crew commander Viktor Mostovoy requested an emergency landing, but the fog that thickened over the city did not allow it to be completed. He was invited to sit in Pulkovo, on a reserve unpaved strip (Leningrad). While emergency services gathered at the site of the proposed landing, the liner circled at an altitude of 400 meters, producing fuel. When nothing foreshadowed the troubles, another unusual situation awaited the crew - the fuel gauge turned out to be faulty. When the aircraft entered the eighth circle, the fuel supply ran out and the left engine stalled, and after a couple of minutes the second one, although the meters showed the presence of fuel.
Once at a distance of 21 km from the airport, the 30-year-old liner commander, having maintained his composure, made the only right decision - to board the Neva without endangering the city. Choosing a section between the Finland and Bolsheokhtinsky bridges, he filigree landed a plane ten meters from one of them. Having made an emergency landing on the river, he saved the lives of passengers and crew. The composure of man was astounding. However, eyewitnesses say: Mostovoy left the liner last, and everyone was amazed - in a few minutes he became completely gray.
So, there are two main indicators of composure: the presence of a stressful situation and the ability to maintain clarity of thinking, which allowed us not to panic, but to make the only right decision in this situation. We list the synonyms of this concept:
- ability to control oneself;
- calm
- presence of mind;
- self-control
- excerpt.
Composure here is seen as a personality trait, a character trait that the crew commander possessed.
Episode from "Seventeen Moments of Spring"
The cult film of 1973 left in memory many powerful episodes, one of which was the interrogation of radio operator Kat. The Sturmbannführer SS, who conducted him, uses an inhumane method against his mother: for the scout to surrender Stirlitz, he spreads her infant child naked at the window, although he may die from frostbite. At the same time, the fascist himself is nervous, justifying his actions with a duty to the country. Two more Germans are present in the scene: Unterscharfuhrer SS Barbara Krajn and Helmut Calder.
Pay attention to their behavior. In Helmut, humanity has been preserved, he realizes that the child is not to blame and cannot be responsible for the actions of adults. He is trying to calm the baby, to resist the actions of Jürgen Rolf. And when this fails, pulls the trigger to crack down on the cruel torturer of the baby. A very different behavior is demonstrated by Barbara. Not a single muscle flinched on the face of a woman who was called upon by nature to protect children. In a negative sense, composure is indifference, insensitivity, coldness, insensibility, apathy, spiritual callousness (synonyms). Krain is not capable of compassion, she does not have an emotional response to what is happening. In this case, the woman according to the scenario is only 20 years old.
What makes people like that? Lack of love and cordial affection in the family, alienation with loved ones, thoughtless fanaticism. Of course, Kraine cannot serve as an example to follow, but Viktor Mostovy’s actions are respected, and many would like to keep their thoughts clear in a difficult situation.
What happens during stress
Why is this not always successful? The main secret lies in the fact that in conditions of increased stress by the adrenal glands, the hormone cortisol is produced. It is toxic and has a significant effect on the brain and not only. Cortisol helps to increase heart rate, change the level of adrenaline in the blood, blur the thinking. Many systems stop working. The main thing in our case is that rational thinking is completely eliminated.
If we admit that composure is the subjugation of feelings to the mind in difficult moments, then how do individuals succeed?
How is composure formed
The formation of this quality, as well as other character traits, has been going on since childhood. If a person is easily annoyed, panic or lose his temper, it becomes a habit - an action in which he begins to feel a need. There are three ways to form it:
- Imitation. If adults do not know how and do not try to control their emotions, then a child will demonstrate similar behavior.
- Repeated action. If the child is offered an algorithm of behavior under stress, which will lead to a result, he will also become a habit.
- Focused efforts. Here, reinforcement becomes important.
So, composure is the ability to subordinate emotions and feelings to reason in difficult situations. What algorithm can be developed for this? Given that neuro-endocrine changes occur in the body, a pause is the best option. It should be used to cope with surging emotions: anger, excitement, confusion, etc.
In ancient times, the sages, before pronouncing the phrase, arranged for themselves a test of three gates:
- Before the first they asked themselves: "Are my words true?"
- At the second gate, the question was: "Are they necessary?"
- At the door of the third, the sages asked: "Are these kind words?"
Only three times answering “yes” did the sage say the prepared phrase aloud.
How to keep cool
Focused efforts can also lead to results. What techniques can be used in addition to a pause? How to develop composure consciously? We offer several ways:
- Rephrasing. It may be applicable if other people's words are a source of stress, including a provocative question. You can buy time using the phrase: "Do I understand correctly that ..."
- Soft check or refinement. Additional questions will help both opponents cope with emotions.
- Time-out. If during a pause a person can take a few breaths or count to 10, then more time is needed here to understand what is happening. An opponent can be offered to return to the problem in half an hour, for example.
- Take. Having understood during the dialogue that harsh or incorrect words were said, one should pay attention to this and repeat the phrase differently.
- Slowing down speech. Long pauses in conversation and a decrease in the rate of pronunciation of words relieves stress.
- Designation of emotion. Recognition of the feelings that have taken possession of a person reduces the degree of dialogue: "I'm too annoyed to ..."
Daniel Levitin's Tips
The American scientist-psychologist promotes the practice of preventive work, when he analyzes in advance what can go wrong and what unpleasant surprises can happen in a given situation. Surely the actions of Viktor Mostovoy were repeatedly practiced on simulators before, when options for a possible engine failure were considered. Composure is the ability to curb emotions and give way to the mind, the mobilization of the body, but not the appearance of a ready-made solution from nowhere.
Therefore, in a calm environment, it is advisable to think over certain actions in advance in the case of, for example, preventing the loss of valuables, documents, emergency leaving the apartment, etc. For this, special places should be identified for storing keys, phone, documents, and wallet. Photos or copies of documents should be placed on electronic media in order to quickly restore them in case of loss.