Therapeutic affect reduction, emotion regulation, and emotional memory reconsolidation: A neuroscientific quandary

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x14000193 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kevin S. LaBar

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Therapeutic Process ◽

Emotional Arousal ◽

Emotional Memory ◽

Memory Reconsolidation ◽

Neural Pathways ◽

Precipitating Factor

AbstractLane et al. emphasize the role of emotional arousal as a precipitating factor for successful psychotherapy. However, as therapy ensues, the arousal diminishes. How can the unfolding therapeutic process generate long-term memories for reconsolidated emotional material without the benefit of arousal? Studies investigating memory for emotionally regulated material provide some clues regarding the neural pathways that may underlie therapy-based memory reconsolidation.

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Emotion regulation and satisfaction in long-term marital relationships: The role of emotional contagion

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407518804452 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (9) ◽

pp. 2880-2895

Author(s):

Silvia Mazzuca ◽

Konstantinos Kafetsios ◽

Stefano Livi ◽

Fabio Presaghi

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Marital Satisfaction ◽

Cognitive Reappraisal ◽

Emotional Contagion ◽

Marital Relationships ◽

Individual Level ◽

Actor Partner Interdependence Model ◽

Regulation Of Emotion

How couples regulate their emotions and how they converge emotionally with one another can critically affect relationship quality. We examined individual differences in two different classes of interaction-relevant processes—emotion regulation (ER) and emotional contagion (EC), the tendency to catch and converge with the emotions of others—in long-term marital relationships. Results from the actor–partner interdependence model analyses indicated that (a) actors’ and partners’ levels of cognitive reappraisal (but not suppression) and EC were independently associated with higher marital satisfaction and (b) both partners’ and actors’ levels of EC moderated associations between cognitive reappraisal (but not suppression) and marital satisfaction, such that this association significantly increased for lower levels of EC. EC at couple level had a direct effect on marital satisfaction and overrode individual-level effects of EC. These results indicate that both automatic (EC) and controlled (ER) processes have independent and conjoint effects on marital satisfaction in long-wed couples and, to an extent, coincide in attempts to synchronize couples’ emotional linkage. The results point to intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms in the regulation of emotion in longer term marital relationships.

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