Individual differences in emotion regulation and their impact on selective attention |
Posted on:2011-02-14 | Degree:M.Sc | Type:Thesis |
University:University of Alberta (Canada) | Candidate:Arndt, Jody Elizabeth | Full Text:PDF |
GTID:2445390002964695 | Subject:Health Sciences |
Abstract/Summary: | |
Studies were conducted to investigate relationships between trait-emotion regulation variables (including reappraisal and suppression) and selective attention to negative emotional information. Correlation analyses of data in experiment1 showed that trait-suppression was related to early attentional avoidance of angry faces, while reappraisal showed no relationship to attention. Experiment 2 directly compared selective attention to angry faces in groups of high trait-suppressors and high trait-reappraisers. Since reappraisers are also low trait-anxious and suppressors are high trait-anxious, low emotion regulating high- and low-anxious control groups were included. Contrary to findings from experiment 1, trait-suppressors did not have lower selective attention to angry faces than low-regulating high anxious controls. Trait-reappraisers in experiment 2 showed pronounced vigilance for angry faces compared to both trait suppressors and low-regulating low anxious controls. These results suggest that trait-suppression may reduce attentional threat biases. Conversely, trait-reappraisal combined with low anxiety may allow individuals to prioritize threat in attention. |
Keywords/Search Tags: | Attention, Angry faces, Low |
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