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Flexible control in processing affective and non-affective material predicts individual differences in trait
Jessica J Genet1, Matthias Siemer
1Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA. jessicajgenet@umiami.edu
Cognition & Emotion
|March 25, 2011
Summary
Trait resilience, the ability to adapt to emotional challenges, is linked to cognitive flexibility and flexible affective processing. Working memory capacity did not predict resilience, highlighting specific cognitive underpinnings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Trait resilience is a key personality trait for emotional adaptation.
- Individual differences in resilience require investigation into underlying cognitive mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific cognitive processes contributing to trait resilience.
- To differentiate cognitive flexibility and affective processing roles in resilience.
Main Methods:
- Assessed trait resilience, cognitive flexibility, and working memory capacity.
- Utilized a novel affective task-switching paradigm for flexible affective processing measurement.
Main Results:
- Cognitive flexibility and flexible affective processing uniquely predicted trait resilience.
- Working memory capacity was not a significant predictor of trait resilience.
- Flexibility measures were specific to resilience, not general cognitive traits.
Conclusions:
- Trait resilience is associated with specific cognitive flexibility, not general cognitive ability.
- Flexible affective processing is a key cognitive component of trait resilience.
- This study advances understanding of the cognitive architecture of resilience.
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