EMOTONGUE, a smartphone application designed to promote awareness and consequent emotional self-regulation measure emotions in natural contexts

Abstract

EMOTONGUE is an Android application designed to help people become more aware of their own emotions, facilitating emotional self-regulation processes in their daily lives. The app was evaluated in a study with 16 participants. They used the app five times a day for two weeks. The aim was to improve emotional management, emotional granularity and perception of emotional intensity. A mixed methods design was used, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Results indicated progressive improvements in self-awareness and emotional management, as well as in emotional granularity, by achieving app-based labelling of emotions in a more specific way. Differences in emotional expression were observed between native and second languages, as well as in the frequency of use of emotions related to arousal and/or pleasure due to cultural and/or gender nuances. Although the results suggest the efficacy of the app, a larger sample size is required to confirm them. This study highlights the importance of accessible tools in psychology and education to benefit more people.