Strategic automation of emotion regulation.
As implementation intentions are a powerful self-regulation tool for thought and action (meta-analysis by P. M. Gollwitzer & P. Sheeran, 2006), the present studies were conducted to address their effectiveness in regulating emotional reactivity. Disgust- (Study 1) and fear- (Study 2) eliciting stimuli were viewed under 3 different self-regulation instructions: the goal intention to not get disgusted or frightened, respectively, this goal intention furnished with an implementation intention (i.e., an if-then plan), and a no-self-regulation control group. Only implementation-intention participants succeeded in reducing their disgust and fear reactions as compared to goal-intention and control participants. In Study 3, electrocortical correlates (using dense-array electroencephalography) revealed differential early visual activity in response to spider slides in ignore implementation-intention participants, as reflected in a smaller P1. Theoretical and applied implications of the present findings for emotion regulation via implementation intentions are discussed.
Gallo
Inge Schweiger
IS
Departamento de Psicología Social, Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Keil
Andreas
A
McCulloch
Kathleen C
KC
Rockstroh
Brigitte
B
Gollwitzer
Peter M
PM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003463:Cues; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires