Find the silver lining or ignore the cloud? Cognitive reappraisal versus visual attention training.

Abstract

This study contrasted the efficacy of two strategies for emotion regulation, cognitive reappraisal (CR) and attentional control (AC), while using eye-tracking to examine gaze fixation patterns associated with each strategy. Participants (n = 98 undergraduates) viewed emotionally negative and neutral slides before and after one of three training conditions: CR training (verbal instructions to reframe interpretations of negative images), AC training (gaze-contingent feedback emphasizing fixation away from negative portions of images), or a no-training control condition. CR training led to the most beneficial consequences for self-reported emotion ratings; AC training improved emotion ratings more than the no-training control but not as much as CR. AC training led to significantly reduced time fixating gaze on negative content, whereas CR did not alter gaze fixations compared with the no-training control. Moreover, among the AC group, participants who looked away from negative content to a greater extent reported more beneficial change in emotional self-report, whereas that same pattern was not evident in the CR or no-training group. The findings add to evidence that CR training is more effective than distraction-related strategies and that CR does not necessitate gaze changes to be effective. Together, the findings contribute to furthering knowledge about distinct cognitive mechanisms involved in different strategies of emotion regulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).