Automatic Emotion Regulation During Anger Provocation

Iris B. Mauss et al

Keywords: Automatic Emotion Regulation, Anger, Physiological Responses, Emotions, Self-Regulation

The Study: This study investigated whether individuals differ in their ability to regulate emotions automatically, without conscious effort, and how this capacity influences emotional responses to anger. Ninety-two undergraduate students participated in tasks designed to provoke anger, while physiological measures and self-reports were collected.

Main Findings: Individuals with a higher tendency toward automatic emotion regulation exhibited lower physiological reactivity (e.g., lower blood pressure and heart rate) and reported less anger compared to those with low automatic regulation. These effects occurred without explicit regulation instructions, suggesting that automatic processes play a protective role in emotional experiences.

Practical Implications: The ability to regulate emotions automatically may serve as an important resource for psychological and physical health, reducing the negative impact of intense emotions such as anger. Interventions aimed at strengthening automatic regulation processes may enhance well-being and buffer stress-related problems.

Reference: Mauss, I. B., Cook, C. L., Cheng, J. Y. J., & Gross, J. J. (2007). Automatic emotion regulation during anger provocation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43(5), 698–711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2006.07.003

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