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Temporal orientation of positive reappraisal
Valeriia V Vlasenko1, Wesley K Tucker1, Christian E Waugh1
1Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|February 15, 2024
Summary
Future-oriented positive reappraisal, a strategy for emotion regulation, is slightly more effective than past-oriented reappraisal. People naturally favor future-focused thinking when managing emotional events.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Emotion Regulation
Background:
- Positive reappraisal is a known emotion regulation strategy.
- Research is exploring different types of positive reappraisal for effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate temporal orientation (past vs. future) as a key characteristic of positive reappraisal.
- To compare the effectiveness of future-oriented versus past-oriented positive reappraisal.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted where participants used positive reappraisal for stressors.
- Temporal orientation of reappraisals was measured or manipulated (future vs. past).
Main Results:
- Participants naturally used more future-oriented than past-oriented reappraisals.
- Both types of reappraisal were effective, but future-oriented reappraisals slightly increased positive emotion and were perceived as more effective.
- Past-oriented reappraisals were more common for familiar or chronic stressors.
Conclusions:
- Temporal orientation is a significant factor in positive reappraisal effectiveness.
- Future-oriented positive reappraisal may offer slight advantages in emotion regulation.
- Understanding the temporal focus of reappraisal is crucial for optimizing emotion regulation strategies.
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