Regulation of positive and negative emotion: effects of sociocultural context

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that the use of emotion regulation strategies can vary by sociocultural context. In a previous study, we reported changes in the use of two different emotion regulation strategies at an annual alternative cultural event, Burning Man (McRae et al., 2011). In this sociocultural context, as compared to typically at home, participants reported less use of expressive suppression (a strategy generally associated with maladaptive outcomes), and greater use of cognitive reappraisal (a strategy generally associated with adaptive outcomes). What remained unclear was whether these changes in self-reported emotion regulation strategy use were characterized by changes in the regulation of positive emotion, negative emotion, or both. We addressed this issue in the current study by asking Burning Man participants separate questions about positive and negative emotion. Using multiple datasets, we replicated our previous findings, and found that the decreased use of suppression is primarily driven by reports of decreased suppression of positive emotion at Burning Man. By contrast, the increased use of reappraisal is not characterized by differential reappraisal of positive and negative emotion at Burning Man. Moreover, we observed novel individual differences in the magnitude of these effects. The contextual changes in self-reported suppression that we observe are strongest for men and younger participants. For those who had previously attended Burning Man, we observed lower levels of self-reported suppression in both sociocultural contexts: Burning Man and typically at home. These findings have implications for understanding the ways in which certain sociocultural contexts may decrease suppression, and possibly minimize its associated maladaptive effects.

Emotion Regulation Frequency and Success: Separating Constructs from Methods and Time Scale

“…Because culture is seen as relatively static, long‐term ER frequency is a good fit with these studies. However, even ER frequency can also change with more subtle changes in sociocultural context, such as the transition to college (Srivastava, Tamir, McGonigal, John, & Gross, ) or participation in a temporary, alternative culture (McRae, Heller, John, & Gross, ; Snyder, Heller, Lumian, & McRae, ).…”

“…For example, there are few reported gender differences in reappraisal frequency, but adults report using reappraisal more frequently than adolescents (Blanchard‐Fields et al, ; Garnefski et al, ), and those with mood and anxiety disorders use reappraisal less frequently than those without these disorders (Aldao et al, ; Gross & John, ). For expressive suppression, by contrast, women regularly use suppression less frequently than men (Gross & John, ; Snyder et al, ), older adults tend to use it less frequently than younger adults (John & Gross ), and those with mood and anxiety disorders use suppression more frequently than those without (Aldao et al, ; Gross & John, ). However, it is not yet clear whether all of these differences are true of short‐term ER frequency or any type of ER success.…”

A concept analysis: Emotional regulation of nurses

“…On the other hand, the use of suppression for ER has a different mechanism. Suppressing positive emotions may lead to decreased subjective experience of the positive emotion . Conversely, inhibiting expression of negative emotions may not have any effect on the person …”

Emerging Influence of Transmodernism and Transpersonal Psychology Reflected in Rising Popularity of Transformational Festivals

“…In the postmodern age, such experiences are a perfect counterpoint to Individualism. By first encouraging emotional expression, then by providing time to reflect on the experience, events like Burning Man help participants learn to more successfully regulate emotional expression using cognitive reappraisal as opposed to the significantly less desirable option of expressive suppression (McRae, Heller, John, & Gross, 2011;Shuman, 2013;Snyder, Heller, Lumian, & McRae, 2013).…”