Better late than never? On the dynamics of online regulation of sadness using distraction and cognitive reappraisal.
Real-life emotion regulation often occurs at some point after an emotion-triggering event (ETE) has been introduced, but most previous research has involved regulation before or after the ETE. In a series of experiments, the authors examined online regulation via distraction and cognitive reappraisal by manipulating the strategy initiation point in sadness-evoking films. Distraction was effective even when initiated late, presumably because it involves diluting the ETE contents by mixing them with a nonsad input. By contrast, reappraisal was less effective when initiated late, suggesting a possible point of no return for this strategy: Adopting a detached view late in the ETE may be difficult because it involves continued focus on the ETE and hence requires overcoming a previously formed tendency of identifying with the emotional content.
Sheppes
Gal
G
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. sheppes@bgu.ac.il
Meiran
Nachshon
N
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D009040:Motion Pictures; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading