Potential Mechanisms Underlying Reappraisal Strategies: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Reappraisal strategies are vital for our psychological well-being. The way people feel, behave and react in different stressful situations, depends to a degree on the reappraisal strategies they use to manage their emotional states and to cope with a given situation. In this paper, we assess the types of reappraisal strategy described in the scientific literature from the point of view of a focus on specific cognitive strategies. Adopting a mixed research design, we used inductive content analysis in order to identify potential underlying mechanisms relating to qualitative patterns of thinking used in efficient reappraisal. Eight anger and anxiety eliciting situations where used to stimulate emotional responses and the use of reappraisal strategies. Based on our exploratory approach we identified four additional specific reappraisal strategies (justification, responsibly assumption, normality check, and non-justified acceptance) which can be used as specific intervention techniques. Awareness and core beliefs are cognitive processes that contribute to the understanding of inter-individual differences in the efficacy of the reappraisal process. Research areas for future studies are identified.