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Effective regulation of affect: an action control perspective on emotion regulation
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 15:22 authored by Thomas L Webb, Inge Schweiger Gallo, Eleanor MilesEleanor Miles, Peter M Gollwitzer, Paschal SheeranThe present review adopts an action control perspective on emotion regulation, contextualising the gap between emotion control goals (e.g., I want to remain calm) and emotional outcomes (e.g., anger, anxiety, and aggression) in terms of the broader literature on goal pursuit. We propose that failure to effectively regulate emotions can result from difficulties with the self-regulatory tasks of (i) identifying the need to regulate, (ii) deciding whether and how to regulate, and (iii) enacting a regulation strategy. Next we review evidence that a technique traditionally associated with regulating behavioural goals (forming implementation intentions or “if-then” planning) can help to overcome these difficulties. Meta-analysis indicated that forming implementation intentions is effective in modifying emotional outcomes, with a large effect relative to no regulation instructions (k = 21, N = 1306 d + = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.61 to 1.20) and a medium-sized effect relative to goal intention instructions (k = 29, N = 1208, d + = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.42 to 0.65). Our conclusion is that research on emotion regulation might benefit from an action control perspective and the interventions that this perspective offers.
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Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
European Review of Social PsychologyISSN
1046-3283Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
1Volume
23Page range
143-186Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
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- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2013-07-10First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2013-07-10Usage metrics
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