Working mechanisms in positive interventions: A study using daily assessment of positive emotions

Positive psychology interventions applied in diverse clinical settings and tackling complex clinical issues are advancing the knowledge base of psychotherapy and health outcomes. Positive psychotherapy (PPT) is based primarily on two major theories: Seligman’s PERMA (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) conceptualization of well-being and character strengths. PPT also operates on three assumptions regarding the nature, cause, course, and treatment of specific behavioral patterns: (a) inherent capacity for growth, (b) the authenticity of strengths compared to symptoms, and (c) the role of positives in fostering a of the therapeutic relationship. The notion of happiness espoused in PPT is much more than the sum of its components that can be pursued simultaneously with each individually association with life satisfaction.

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Imagery rescripting versus cognitive restructuring for social anxiety: Treatment effects and working mechanisms

Clinical Psychology in Europe ◽

10.32872/cpe.5303 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Miriam Strohm ◽

Marena Siegesleitner ◽

Anna E. Kunze ◽

Thomas Ehring ◽

Charlotte E. Wittekind

Keyword(s):

Social Anxiety ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Cognitive Restructuring ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Socially Anxious ◽

Speech Task ◽

Anxiety Treatment ◽

Imagery Rescripting ◽

Working Mechanisms

Background Negative mental images in social anxiety are often linked to memories of distressing social experiences. Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) has been found to be a promising intervention to target aversive memories, but mechanisms underlying ImRs are largely unknown. The present study aimed (a) to investigate the effects of ImRs compared to cognitive restructuring (CR) on social anxiety symptoms and (b) to extend previous research by examining whether ImRs works by fostering reappraisal of negative emotional self-beliefs. Method Highly socially anxious individuals (N = 77) were randomly allocated to ImRs, CR, or no intervention control (NIC). A speech task was performed at baseline and at 1-week follow-up. Results Only CR significantly reduced social anxiety symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Decreases in negative appraisals and emotional distress in response to the speech task did not differ between conditions. Regarding working mechanisms, ImRs led to stronger increases in positive emotions than CR and NIC. Both CR and ImRs yielded short-term reductions in emotionally anchored idiosyncratic self-beliefs, but CR was superior to ImRs at follow-up. Conclusions The present study provides evidence for the efficacy of a single-session of CR for social anxiety symptoms. As one specific version of ImRs was applied, it is conceivable that other or optimized versions of ImRs might be more effective.

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The role of affect in feelings of obligation

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19002449 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Stefen Beeler-Duden ◽

Meltem Yucel ◽

Amrisha Vaish

Keyword(s):

Positive Emotions ◽

The Creation ◽

Sense Of Obligation

Abstract Tomasello offers a compelling account of the emergence of humans’ sense of obligation. We suggest that more needs to be said about the role of affect in the creation of obligations. We also argue that positive emotions such as gratitude evolved to encourage individuals to fulfill cooperative obligations without the negative quality that Tomasello proposes is inherent in obligations.

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Effects of Provocation on Emotions and Aggression: An Experimental Study with Aggressive Children

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024/1421-0185.65.2.117 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 117-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Christina Stadler ◽

Sonja Rohrmann ◽

Sibylle Steuber ◽

Fritz Poustka

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Skin Conductance Level ◽

Physiological Measures ◽

Competitive Reaction ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Conduct Disordered ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Aggressive Children ◽

Conductance Level

In this study, the effects of an experimental-induced provocation on emotions and aggression were examined in 34 aggressive conduct-disordered children using a competitive reaction time paradigm. Two experimental conditions were created, an increasing provocation and a low constant provocation condition. Self-rated anger was assessed directly after provocation on a 5-point-visual scale. In addition, negative and positive emotions as well as physiological measures (heart rate and skin conductance level) were measured at baseline and after provocation. Results revealed that participants’ aggressive behaviour and subjective emotions differed as a function of the opponent’s level of provocation. Concerning physiological parameters, no significant differences were found between the experimental conditions. These results suggest that affective, but not physiological variables characterize reactive aggression in conduct-disordered children.

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Does Ego-Resilience Impact Friendship Outcomes?

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000197 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 128-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elizabeth B. Lozano ◽

Mahzad Hojjat ◽

Judith Sims-Knight

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Young Adults ◽

Indirect Effects ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Positive Outcomes ◽

Ego Resilience ◽

Maintenance Behaviors ◽

Received Social Support ◽

Trait Resilience ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. The present study examined the relationship between resilience and positive outcomes in friendships of young adults. SEM and bootstrapping analyses were performed to test whether positive emotions mediate the relationship between ego-resilience and enhanced friendship outcomes. Findings revealed indirect effects for friendship closeness, maintenance behaviors, and received social support. Our findings demonstrate the importance of positive emotions and its connection with trait resilience in the realm of friendships.

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Differences in the Way to Conceive Happiness Relate to Different Reactions to Negative Events

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000246 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 27-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giulia Fuochi ◽

Chiara A. Veneziani ◽

Alberto Voci

Keyword(s):

Positive Emotions ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Protective Role ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Negative Events ◽

Orientations To Happiness ◽

Specific Reactions ◽

The Way

Abstract. This paper aimed to assess whether differences in the way to conceive happiness, measured by the Orientations to Happiness measure, were associated with specific reactions to negative events. We hypothesized that among orientations to pleasure (portraying hedonism), to meaning (representing a eudaimonic approach to life), and to engagement (derived from the experience of flow), orientation to meaning would have displayed a stronger protective role against recent negative and potentially stressful events. After providing a validation of the Italian version of the Orientations to Happiness measure (Study 1), we performed regression analyses of the three orientations on positive and negative emotions linked to a self-relevant negative event (Study 2), and moderation analyses assessing the interactive effects of orientations to happiness and stressful events on well-being indicators (Study 3). Our findings supported the hypotheses. In Study 2, meaning was associated with positive emotions characterized by a lower activation (contentment and interest) compared to the positive emotions associated with pleasure (amusement, eagerness, and happiness). In Study 3, only meaning buffered the effect of recent potentially stressful events on satisfaction with life and positive affect. Results suggest that orientation to meaning might help individuals to better react to negative events.

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Don’t Put Me in This Group

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000363 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 80-93

Author(s):

Jort de Vreeze ◽

Christina Matschke

Keyword(s):

Positive Emotions ◽

Negative Emotions ◽

Negative Information ◽

The Self ◽

The Other ◽

Other Hand ◽

Group Memberships

Abstract. Not all group memberships are self-chosen. The current research examines whether assignments to non-preferred groups influence our relationship with the group and our preference for information about the ingroup. It was expected and found that, when people are assigned to non-preferred groups, they perceive the group as different to the self, experience negative emotions about the assignment and in turn disidentify with the group. On the other hand, when people are assigned to preferred groups, they perceive the group as similar to the self, experience positive emotions about the assignment and in turn identify with the group. Finally, disidentification increases a preference for negative information about the ingroup.

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