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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
16:08
Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition
Published on: February 1, 2012
Why repressing emotions is bad for business.
1Harvard International Negotiation Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston Massachusetts, USA. dlshapiro@law.harvard.edu
Harvard Business Review
|November 7, 2009
Summary
Emotional investment enhances relationships and fosters lasting agreements. In challenging economic times, boosting employee engagement and positive emotions offers significant organizational value.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Emotional investment is crucial for relationship quality and agreement satisfaction.
- Economic downturns limit traditional reward availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the value of emotional investment in organizational contexts.
- To explore engagement as a valuable asset during economic hardship.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of organizational dynamics.
- Review of economic indicators and employee sentiment.
Main Results:
- Emotional investment correlates with improved relationship quality.
- Employee engagement provides substantial value when other rewards are scarce.
Conclusions:
- Prioritizing emotional investment and engagement is a strategic advantage.
- Organizations can leverage emotional capital for resilience in difficult economies.
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