Emotional Support Processes and Physiology
Emotional support is a vital component of physical, mental, and relational health. Recent research on emotional support hints at the complex, dyadic nature of support interactions, and the role of physiology therein, that have yet to be fully explored. The chapter begins by describing the emotional support process and the role that physiology plays in each of the individual phases. Subsequent sections apply previous theory and empirical findings to explore the ways in which relational partners co-create supportive interactions and the role of physiology. This leads to a description of a new physiological model of support co-construction and avenues for future research. In doing so, this chapter fleshes out aspects of the support provision process that, as of yet, remain unexamined.