Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025
09:14
Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: March 14, 2025
362
Reappraisal and mentalizing: Perceived difficulty and effects on negative emotion
John P Powers1, Christian G Capistrano1, Daniel N McIntosh1
1Department of Psychology.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|May 19, 2022
Summary
Engaging in mentalizing during emotion reappraisal did not consistently improve affect or reduce difficulty. Retrospective reports suggested benefits, but online measures indicated potential challenges, highlighting the importance of cognitive context in emotion regulation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Affective Science
Background:
- Cognitive processes can be enhanced by engaging related processes.
- Emotion regulation strategies, like reappraisal, aim to modify emotional responses.
- Mentalizing, or understanding others' mental states, is a related cognitive process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if mentalizing during reappraisal enhances emotion regulation.
- To determine if mentalizing reduces perceived difficulty and negative affect during reappraisal.
- To examine the influence of cognitive context on reappraisal effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Participants used reinterpretation to reappraise negative images.
- Two conditions: self-based reappraisal and mentalizing-based reappraisal (adopting a friend's perspective).
- Online and retrospective ratings of negative affect and reappraisal difficulty were collected.
Main Results:
- Retrospective reports indicated mentalizing reduced difficulty and negative affect.
- Online reports suggested mentalizing increased perceived difficulty and negative affect.
- No consistent facilitative effect of mentalizing on reappraisal was observed.
Conclusions:
- Mentalizing's effect on reappraisal depends on the reporting timeframe (online vs. retrospective).
- Individuals may perceive mentalizing as helpful for reappraisal in retrospect, despite online challenges.
- Findings underscore the significance of cognitive context and self-report methods in emotion regulation research.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
607
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:...
607
01:25Factors Affecting Perception
1.9K
Perception is influenced by perceptual set, context, motivation, and emotion. Perceptual set, or perceptual expectancy, refers to the tendency to perceive things in a particular way, influenced by previous experiences and expectations. This phenomenon affects the interpretation of stimuli, creating a set of mental tendencies and assumptions that impact sensory perceptions of sound, taste, touch, and sight.
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
1.9K
01:17Cognitive Theories: Lazarus Mediational Theory of Emotion
1.2K
Richard Lazarus' cognitive mediational theory highlights the pivotal role of cognitive appraisal in shaping emotional responses. According to this theory, the evaluation of a stimulus — based on personal values, goals, beliefs, and expectations — mediates the emotional response. This appraisal process is immediate and often occurs unconsciously, influencing the intensity and nature of the resulting emotion.
Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Response
Lazarus proposed that...
Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Response
Lazarus proposed that...
1.2K
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
3
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
3
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
118
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
118
01:29The Influence of Affect on Cognition
4
Positive affect significantly influences cognitive processes, including evaluation, memory, creativity, and social judgments. Compared to negative affect, positive emotional states promote more favorable interpretations of stimuli, cognitive flexibility, and heuristic processing. These effects highlight emotions' powerful role in shaping how individuals perceive, remember, and interact with the world.Influence on Evaluation and AttributionWhen individuals experience positive affect, they are...
4