The Regulation of Emotion

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1 The Regulation of Emotion LP 8D Emotional Display 1 Emotions can be disruptive and troublesome. Negative feelings can prevent us from behaving as we would like to, but can so can positive feelings (page 430). Emotional regulation refers to the cognitive and behavioral strategies people use to influence their own emotional experience. These strategies usually involve making negative emotions more positive, but can be to reduce positive emotions.

2 The Regulation of Emotion LP 8D Emotional Display 2 Behavioral strategies may include avoiding stressful situations, distracting themselves by watching television, or taking drugs Cognitive strategies may include Trying not to think about automobile accident, rent due, etc. If these strategies are successful, they are more likely to be repeated in the future because of they are generally negatively reinforced. Effective strategies for regulating your emotions discussed in your textbook are Humor Distraction Ineffective strategies for regulating your emotions discussed in your textbook are Thought suppression rumination Trying not to thing about your problems tends to make you think about them even more. Rumination likewise, focuses your attention on your problems and prolongs negative emotions. Distractions can be helpful if you need temporary relief from your problems creating negative emotions. However, if you avoid your problems all together and engage in

3 LP 8D Emotional Display 3 distractions that make your problem worse such as drug use, gambling, watching television too much, you avoid dealing with the cause of your negative emotions.

4 LP 8D Emotional Display 4 Display Rules Display rules are the norms for the control of emotional expression. Men and women tend to have similar experiences of emotions, however, there are cultural display rules of emotional expression. In one study comparing Japanese and American students, they watched an unpleasant film of car accidents and amputations. o When students did not know that the experimenters were observing them, Japanese and American students had similar emotional expressions of disgust. o However, when they realized they were being observed, Japanese students did not display disgust. In many Asian societies, there is a strong cultural norm against displaying negative emotions in the presence of a respected person. The fact that different cultures have different display rules may help explain why people are better are recognizing facial expressions from people within their own culture (page 383)

5 LP 8D Emotional Display 5 Display Rules In another study of differences in display rules of emotional expression, men and women watched an emotional film. o When men and women were aware that they were being observed, both men and women had similar physiological response, but the women tended to be more emotionally expressive o When men and women were unaware that they were being observed, both men and women had similar physiological responses AND both had similar emotional expressions. In American culture, men are not suppose to show emotions.

6 LP 8D Emotional Display 6 Emotional Expression Emotional Expression is an observable sign of an emotional state. Emotions can be inferred from the way we talk (intonation, inflection, loudness and duration), gaze, gait, posture and a person s touch and most importantly, facial expressions. We have 43 muscles that are capable of creating more than 10,000 unique configurations. It appears that there is generally some universality of emotional expressions. People who are born blind, have quite similar emotional expressions for the basic emotions People are quite accurate at judging the emotional expressions of others, even across cultures.

7 LP 8D Emotional Display 7 Emotional Expression Facial displays of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise appear to be universal across cultures.