Less is more: Morphometric and psychological differences between low and high reappraisers
Edoardo Pappaianni1, Nicola De Pisapia2, Roma Siugzdaite3
1Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Trento, Italy. edoardo.pappaianni@unitn.it.
Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience
|December 21, 2019
Summary
Cognitive reappraisal, an emotion regulation strategy, is linked to brain structure. Lower reappraisal ability correlates with greater gray matter volume in frontal, temporal, and parietal regions and increased negative affect.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Emotion regulation is vital for psychological well-being.
- Deficits in emotion regulation are linked to psychiatric disorders.
- Cognitive reappraisal is an effective emotion regulation strategy, but its neural and psychological impacts are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cognitive reappraisal on brain structure and psychological profiles.
- To explore individual differences in emotion regulation abilities.
Main Methods:
- Source-based morphometry (SBM) applied to MRI scans of 37 participants.
- Participants assessed for affectivity (PANAS) and empathy (IRI).
- Participants categorized into low and high reappraisers based on the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ).
Main Results:
- Low reappraisers exhibited greater gray matter volume in a network including frontal, temporal, and parietal regions compared to high reappraisers.
- Low reappraisers reported higher levels of negative affect.
- No significant differences in empathic abilities were found between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Individual differences in cognitive reappraisal ability are associated with distinct gray matter volumes in specific brain networks.
- Cognitive reappraisal impacts brain structure and may influence experienced negative affect.
- This study provides novel insights into the neural underpinnings of emotion regulation.
More Related Videos
12:55Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
Published on: September 27, 2020
8.9K
08:24The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
Published on: August 25, 2023
1.1K
Related Concept Videos
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.8K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.8K
01:24Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
160
Self-monitoring is a central construct in understanding individual differences in self-presentation strategies across social contexts. It refers to how individuals observe, regulate, and control their expressive behavior and self-presentation following situational cues. Self-monitoring reflects a person's sensitivity to social appropriateness and willingness to adapt behavior to fit varying interpersonal demands.High vs. Low Self-Monitoring IndividualsIndividuals high in self-monitoring are...
160
01:20Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
1.5K
Cognitive psychologist Richard Lazarus proposed the cognitive-mediational theory of emotions, which emphasizes how individuals' assessments of stressors significantly affect their experience of stress. According to Lazarus, the stress response is determined by a two-step appraisal process: primary appraisal and secondary appraisal. These cognitive appraisals help individuals evaluate the potential impact of a stressor and determine the adequacy of their coping resources.
Primary Appraisal:...
Primary Appraisal:...
1.5K
01:27Protecting Self-Esteem
161
Self-esteem, a central component of psychological well-being, is actively maintained through various cognitive and behavioral strategies. Individuals employ specific mechanisms to preserve a positive self-concept and mitigate threats to their self-worth, particularly in contexts involving social evaluation or personal feedback. Four primary techniques are commonly used to sustain self-esteem.Manipulating AppraisalsOne prominent strategy involves manipulating appraisals from others. Individuals...
161
01:29Dark Triad and Person Perception
217
Person perception is influenced by both external behaviors and the observer’s internal characteristics, including personality traits. Individuals with dark personality traits, comprising psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism — collectively known as the dark triad – exhibit manipulative and exploitative tendencies in social contexts. These traits affect how they perceive others and how they are perceived.The Role of Dark Personality Traits in Person PerceptionBlack et...
217
01:09First Impression
150
First impressions play a crucial role in social perception, shaping how individuals assess others in professional, academic, and interpersonal contexts. Psychological research highlights the significance of cognitive biases, such as the primacy and recency effects, which influence how people interpret and recall information.The Primacy Effect and Cognitive AnchoringThe primacy effect describes the tendency for initial information to impact judgment disproportionately. When individuals encounter...
150