The psychology of emotion regulation: An integrative review

TLDR

Emotion regulation governs the offset of emotional responses, distinct from sensitivity, and is categorized by targets such as attention, knowledge, and bodily responses and functions like hedonic satisfaction, goal support, and personality integration. The article reviews contemporary research on the psychology of emotion regulation. Strategies are classified by their targets and functions, and empirical studies are examined. Emotion regulation emerges as one of the most far‑ranging and influential processes at the interface of cognition and emotion.

Abstract

The present article reviews modern research on the psychology of emotion regulation. Emotion regulation determines the offset of emotional responding and is thus distinct from emotional sensitivity, which determines the onset of emotional responding. Among the most viable categories for classifying emotion-regulation strategies are the targets and functions of emotion regulation. The emotion-generating systems that are targeted in emotion regulation include attention, knowledge, and bodily responses. The functions of emotion regulation include satisfying hedonic needs, supporting specific goal pursuits, and facilitating the global personality system. Emotion-regulation strategies are classified in terms of their targets and functions and relevant empirical work is reviewed. Throughout this review, emotion regulation emerges as one of the most far-ranging and influential processes at the interface of cognition and emotion.