Experimentally observed responses to humor are related to individual differences in emotion perception and regulation in everyday life

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Papousek ◽  
Günter Schulter ◽  
Helmut K. Lackner ◽  
Andrea Samson ◽  
H. Harald Freudenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Emotion Perception ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Response Latencies ◽  
Adaptive Trait ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Cognitive Understanding

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the relevance of an individual's typical emotion perception and emotion regulation behavior to his or her responsiveness to humor. This was studied behaviorally by examining responses to different types of humorous stimuli in an experimental paradigm, in a sample of n = 54 participants aged between 18 to 41 years (29 women, 25 men). Individual differences in emotion perception and regulation were assessed by relevant subscales of an established self-report instrument. Higher scores on emotion perception were related to higher amusement ratings in response to the humorous stimuli. Higher scores on emotion regulation were associated with shorter response latencies for the amusement ratings, particularly when it was important to mentalize with the characters in the cartoons in order to understand the humor. The cognitive understanding of the humor was unaffected. The findings suggest that good emotion perception and emotion regulation skills may contribute to greater humor responsiveness in everyday life, which may be an adaptive trait promoting successful functioning and resilience.

Habitual Emotion Regulation and the Facial Grimace

2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 521-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith W. Burton
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Reappraisal ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Major Activity ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Increased Activity ◽  
Zygomaticus Major

Images of pleasant scenes usually produce increased activity over the zygomaticus major muscle, as measured by electromyography (EMG), while less activity is elicited by unpleasant images. However, increases in zygomaticus major EMG activity while viewing unpleasant images have occasionally been reported in the literature on affective facial expression (i.e., “grimacing”). To examine the possibility that individual differences in emotion regulation might be responsible for this inconsistently observed phenomenon, the habitual emotion regulation tendencies of 63 participants (32 women) were assessed and categorized according to their regulatory tendencies. Participants viewed emotionally salient images while zygomaticus major EMG activity was recorded. Participants also provided self-report ratings of their experienced emotional valence and arousal while viewing the pictures. Despite demonstrating intact affective ratings, the “grimacing” pattern of zygomaticus major activity was observed in those who were less likely to use the cognitive reappraisal strategy to regulate their emotions.

scholarly journals Emotion Regulation in Everyday Life: Mapping Global Self-Reports to Daily Processes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Koval ◽  
Elise Katherine Kalokerinos ◽  
Katharine Helen Greenaway ◽  
Hayley Medland ◽  
Peter Kuppens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Strategy Use ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Recent Theory ◽  
Strategy Selection ◽  
Total N ◽  
Sampling Studies ◽  
Self Reports

Recent theory outlines emotion regulation as a dynamic process occurring across several stages: (i) identifying the need to regulate, (ii) selecting a strategy, and (iii) implementing that strategy to change an emotional state. Despite its dynamic nature, emotion regulation is typically assessed using static global self-report questionnaires that ask people to reflect on their general use of certain strategies. While these global measures are typically assumed to assess stable individual differences in the selection stage of emotion regulation, this assumption has not been tested systematically. Moreover, it is unclear whether global self-report scales also capture processes relevant to the identification and implementation stages of emotion regulation. To address these issues, we examined how global self-report measures correspond with the three stages outlined in emotion regulation theory, modelled using repeated sampling of strategy use, and affective antecedents and consequences of strategy use in daily life. We analyzed data from nine daily diary and experience sampling studies (total N=1,097), in which participants reported their use of cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, and rumination using both global questionnaires and daily life methods. Results across studies revealed weak-to moderate convergent correlations between global self-reports and individual differences in strategy selection in daily life, as well as some cross-strategy correlations. We also found some evidence that certain global self-reports capture identification and implementation processes. Taken together, our findings suggest that global self-reports do not only assess trait strategy selection, but may also reflect individual differences in identification and implementation of emotion regulation strategies in daily life.

scholarly journals You ≠ me: individual differences in the structure of social cognition.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Shaw ◽  
Kristina Czekoova ◽  
Charlotte Rebecca Pennington ◽  
Adam Qureshi ◽  
Beáta Špiláková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Visual Perspective ◽  
Personality Profiles ◽  
Personality Styles ◽  
Visual Perspective Taking ◽  
Interoceptive Accuracy

This study investigated the structure of social cognition, and how it is influenced by personality; specifically, how various socio-cognitive capabilities, and the pattern of inter-relationships and co-dependencies among them differ between divergent personality styles. To measure social cognition, a large non-clinical sample (n = 290) undertook an extensive battery of self-report and performance-based measures of visual perspective taking, imitative tendencies, affective empathy, interoceptive accuracy, emotion regulation, and state affectivity. These same individuals then completed the Personality Styles and Disorders Inventory. Latent Profile Analysis revealed two dissociable personality profiles that exhibited contrasting cognitive and affective dispositions, and multivariate analyses indicated further that these profiles differed on measures of social cognition; individuals characterised by a flexible and adaptive personality profile expressed higher action orientation (emotion regulation) compared to those showing more inflexible tendencies, along with better visual perspective taking, superior interoceptive accuracy, less imitative tendencies, and lower personal distress and negativity. These characteristics point towards more efficient self-other distinction, and to higher cognitive control more generally. Moreover, low-level cognitive mechanisms served to mediate other higher level socio-emotional capabilities. Together, these findings elucidate the cognitive and affective underpinnings of individual differences in social behaviour, providing a data-driven model that should guide future research in this area.

scholarly journals High emotional contagion and empathy are associated with enhanced detection of emotional authenticity in laughter

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2355-2363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonor Neves ◽  
Carolina Cordeiro ◽  
Sophie K Scott ◽  
São Luís Castro ◽  
César F Lima
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Emotional Contagion ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Emotional Information ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Communicative Act

Nonverbal vocalisations such as laughter pervade social interactions, and the ability to accurately interpret them is an important skill. Previous research has probed the general mechanisms supporting vocal emotional processing, but the factors that determine individual differences in this ability remain poorly understood. Here, we ask whether the propensity to resonate with others’ emotions—as measured by trait levels of emotional contagion and empathy—relates to the ability to perceive different types of laughter. We focus on emotional authenticity detection in spontaneous and voluntary laughs: spontaneous laughs reflect a less controlled and genuinely felt emotion, and voluntary laughs reflect a more deliberate communicative act (e.g., polite agreement). In total, 119 participants evaluated the authenticity and contagiousness of spontaneous and voluntary laughs and completed two self-report measures of resonance with others’ emotions: the Emotional Contagion Scale and the Empathic Concern scale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. We found that higher scores on these measures predict enhanced ability to detect laughter authenticity. We further observed that perceived contagion responses during listening to laughter significantly relate to authenticity detection. These findings suggest that resonating with others’ emotions provides a mechanism for processing complex aspects of vocal emotional information.

scholarly journals Hating waiting

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 204380871877898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ema Tanovic ◽  
Greg Hajcak ◽  
Jutta Joormann
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Delay Discounting ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Decision Making Under Uncertainty ◽  
Gambling Task ◽  
Low Probability

Difficulty tolerating uncertainty has been linked to heightened negative affect and risk for various forms of psychopathology. Willingness to tolerate uncertainty is usually assessed by self-report but investigating behavior under uncertainty may be particularly informative. This study examined whether willingness to wait in uncertainty is related to individual differences in impulsivity, anxiety, and emotion regulation. Students ( n = 56) completed an uncertain gambling task in which they chose between a small, low-probability reward available immediately and a larger, higher probability reward available after an uncertain delay. The distribution of the data indicated two groups: those who always waited and those who did not. Non-waiters compared to waiters were characterized by higher levels of delay discounting, neuroticism, inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty, and worry. They also reported more tension following the task than did waiters. Among non-waiters, greater delay discounting was associated with less willingness to wait in uncertainty. These findings suggest a link between compromised decision-making under uncertainty and heightened risk for psychopathology.

scholarly journals Individual differences in multiple dimensions of aggression: a univariate and multivariate genetic analysis

Twin Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip A Vernon ◽  
Julie M McCarthy ◽  
Andrew M Johnson ◽  
Kerry L Jang ◽  
Julie Aitken Harris
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Genetic Analyses ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Multivariate Genetic Analysis ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Different Dimensions

AbstractPrevious behaviour genetic studies of aggression have yielded inconsistent results: reported heritabilities for different types of aggressive behaviour ranging from 0 to 0.98. In the present study, 247 adult twin pairs (183 MZ pairs; 64 same-sex DZ pairs) were administered seven self-report questionnaires which yielded 18 measures of aggression. Univariate genetic analyses showed moderate to high heritabilities for 14 of these 18 measures and for a general aggression factor and three correlated aggression factors extracted from the measures. Multivariate genetic analyses showed sizeable genetic correlations between the different dimensions of aggression. Thus, individual differences in many types of aggressive behaviour are attributable to some extent to genetic factors and there is considerable overlap between the genes that operate on different types of aggressive behaviour.

The Relationship Between Emotion Regulation, Executive Functioning, and Aggressive Behaviors

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1692-1707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah R. Holley ◽  
Scott T. Ewing ◽  
Jordan T. Stiver ◽  
Lian Bloch
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Aggressive Behaviors ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Executive Functioning Deficits ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
The Relationship

Emotion regulation deficits and executive functioning deficits have independently been shown to increase vulnerability toward engaging in aggressive behaviors. The effects of these risk factors, however, have not been evaluated in relation to one another. This study evaluated the degree to which each was associated with aggressive behaviors in a sample of 168 undergraduate students. Executive functioning (cognitive inhibition and mental flexibility) was assessed with a Stroop-like neuropsychological task. Emotion regulation and aggressive behaviors were assessed via self-report inventories. Results showed main effects for both emotion regulation and executive functioning, as well as a significant interaction, indicating that those who scored lowest in both domains reported engaging in aggressive behaviors the most frequently. When different types of aggression were examined, this interaction was only significant for acts of physical aggression, not for acts of verbal aggression. Therefore, for physical aggression, emotion regulation and executive functioning exerted a moderating effect on one another. The implications are that, at least for acts of physical aggression, relatively strong capabilities in either domain may buffer against tendencies to engage in aggressive behaviors. Thus, both emotion regulation skills and executive functioning abilities may be valuable targets for interventions aiming to reduce aggressive behaviors.

The Psychology of Smartphone: The Development of the Smartphone Impact Scale (SIS)

Assessment ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1176-1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Pancani ◽  
Emanuele Preti ◽  
Paolo Riva
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Problematic Smartphone Use ◽  
Psychological Literature ◽  
Problematic Use ◽  
Impact Scale ◽  
Preliminary Version ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Item Scale

Smartphones are changing lives in a number of ways. However, the psychological literature has primarily focused on smartphone overuse, neglecting the impacts that are not strictly related to problematic use. The present research was aimed to develop a comprehensive self-report scale that accounts for the cognitive, affective, social, and behavioral impacts of smartphones in everyday life—the Smartphone Impact Scale (SIS). Study 1 ( N = 407) yielded a preliminary version of the scale, which was refined in Study 2 ( N = 601). The SIS is a 26-item scale that measures seven dimensions of smartphone impact. Results revealed meaningful associations between its subscales, psychosocial constructs, and daily usage of smartphones and apps. The SIS broadens the view of human–smartphone interaction by extending the concept of problematic smartphone use to further dimensions (e.g., emotion regulation) and introducing a proper measurement of underinvestigated smartphone impacts (e.g., tasks support). The implications of each SIS subscale are discussed.

When to Use Your Head and When to Use Your Heart

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Gilin ◽  
William W. Maddux ◽  
Jordan Carpenter ◽  
Adam D. Galinsky
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Emotional Understanding ◽  
Coalition Game ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Critical Skills ◽  
Multiple Round ◽  
Process Perspective ◽  
Cognitive Understanding

Four studies explored whether perspective-taking and empathy would be differentially effective in mixed-motive competitions depending on whether the critical skills for success were more cognitively or emotionally based. Study 1 demonstrated that individual differences in perspective-taking, but not empathy, predicted increased distributive and integrative performance in a multiple-round war game that required a clear understanding of an opponent’s strategic intentions. Conversely, both measures and manipulations of empathy proved more advantageous than perspective-taking in a relationship-based coalition game that required identifying the strength of interpersonal connections (Studies 2-3). Study 4 established a key process: perspective-takers were more accurate in cognitive understanding of others, whereas empathy produced stronger accuracy in emotional understanding. Perspective-taking and empathy were each useful but in different types of competitive, mixed-motive situations—their success depended on the task–competency match. These results demonstrate when to use your head versus your heart to achieve the best outcomes for oneself.

scholarly journals Be aware, make it clear, and take the Lead: emotion regulation difficulties and emotional intelligence as moderators of cognitive reappraisal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Bodrogi ◽  
Tamas Bereczkei ◽  
Anita Deak
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Cognitive Reappraisal ◽  
Affective Responses ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Moderating Role

AbstractTwo research traditions explain the way we deal with emotional situations: emotional intelligence (EI) and emotion regulation (ER). EI refers to the individual differences in the knowledge, identification, and regulation of emotions. ER describes processes in which emotions are experienced, expressed, and altered. Our study examined the EI-ER link and their moderating role on affective responses. We used self-report questionnaires and a cognitive reappraisal (CR) task, in which subjective affective responses were registered. We found that higher levels of ER difficulties correlated with lower EI. Gender had an overall impact on affective changes, indicating a more unpleasant and more arousing affective state for women compared with men. Regarding the moderating role of EI and ER difficulties, the ability to utilize emotions (Utilization) decreased the valence into a more unpleasant direction, similar to the effect of the inability to identify and differentiate emotions (Clarity). A weak control over emotions (Impulse), however, increased the valence into a more pleasant direction. The lack of attention to emotional signals (Awareness) marginally decreased the initial intensity (i.e., lower level of arousal). We demonstrated that EI and ER have distinctive routes and a different influence on the affective outcome defined by valence and arousal ratings: (1) EI has an impact through the utilization of emotions mainly on the valence dimension; and (2) individual differences in ER have a moderating effect on both valence and arousal dimensions. This study provided evidence on how individual differences contribute to a successful ER process when using a CR strategy.

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