emotion regulation in couples' conflict

8/20/2019 Emotion Regulation in Couples' Conflict

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Emotion RegulationDuring RelationshipConflict

Shiri Ben-Naim

Gilad Hirschberger Tsachi Ein-Dor Mario Mikulincer


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Emotion RegulationOur ability to influence which emotions we willexperience, and when and how they will beexperienced or expressed (Gross, 1998)

Emotion regulation can influence differentcomponents of the emotion system

Subjective experience

Behavior Physiological activity

(Gross, 1999)


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Emotion Regulation

Input Emotionalreaction

Output

CognitiveReappraisal

EmotionSuppression

(Gross, 1998)


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Emotion Regulation DuringSocial Interaction (Butler et al., 2003)

Actor effects

• Expression : Lessnegative and lesspositive affect

• Experience : Noeffects

• Physiology : Noeffects

ReappraisalSuppression

• Expression : Lessnegative and lesspositive affect

• Experience : Morenegative, lesspositive affect

• Physiology :

Elevated bloodpressure


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Emotion Regulation DuringSocial Interaction (Butler et al., 2003)

Partner effects

• Expression : Noeffects

• Experience : No

effects• Physiology : No

effects

ReappraisalSuppression

• Expression : Noeffects

• Experience : No

effects• Physiology : Increase

in BP

Second Hand Smoke Effect


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Emotion Regulation in CloseRelationships

Non-verbal emotional information is apowerful indicator and predictor of maritalquality and stabilityRevealing internal states and emotionsenables the development of intimacy(Collins & Miller, 1994)

Conflict interaction predicts divorce over a14-year period(Gottman & Levenson, 2000)


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The Current Research

Conflict interaction

ReappraisalmanipulationControlSuppressionmanipulation

Participants: 127 young couples, 56% married, 44% livingtogether


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Cognitive reappraisal

manipulation

“This study is designed to understand the link betweenthe kind of mindset a person adopts before entering

into a conversation and the kind of conversation theythen have. We would like you to keep in mind that allcouples have conflicts and that discussing them canmake it hard to remember the positive aspects of one’spartner or relationships . We would like for you toprepare for the conversation by calling to mind some ofthe positive aspects of your relationship and partner,as well as some of the good times you have hadtogether”.

(Richards, Butler & Gross, 2003 )


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Emotion suppressionmanipulation

“This study is designed to understand the link betweenthe emotional expressions a person makes and the

kind of conversation they have. We’d like you to inhibitthe expression of emotion through your face and toneof voice so that your partner would not know you areexperiencing any emotions at all. We would like you toprepare for the conversation by calling to mind the

major issues related to the conflict topic you will bediscussing”.

(Richards, Butler & Gross, 2003 )


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Results: Reappraisal

Partner Effects

no effects

No effects

Lower cardiovasculararousal

• Expression : no effects

• Experience : Morepositive and less negativeaffect

• Physiology : No effects

Actor Effects


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Results: Suppression

Partner Effects

More negative affect

No effects

Higher cardiovasculararousal

• Expression : morenegative affect

• Experience : less positiveaffect

• Physiology : No effects

Actor Effects


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Cardiovascular Arousal

-0.2

-0.15

-0.1

-0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

ControlReappraisalSuppression

C a r

d i o v a s c u

l a r a r o u s a

l

erences etween groups n partnerscardiovascular arousal


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The Role of Relationship Quality

SuppressionManipulation

Low MaritalSatisfaction

High MaritalSatisfaction

Actor ExpressedSadness

Partner ExpressedBelligerence

+ +


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Conclusions

Cognitive reappraisal led actors to a morepositive subjective experience, and led partnersto lower arousal.

Emotion suppression led actors to worsesubjective experience and behavior, and ledpartners to higher arousal and negativeexpressions.Marital satisfaction moderated the effects of themanipulations on actor and partner


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Thank you

Shiri Ben-NaimGilad Hirschberger Tsachi Ein-Dor Mario Mikulincer

emotion regulation in couples' conflict

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