Situation selection for the regulation of emotion responses: Non-meaningful choice options retain partial physiological regulatory impact

• Published in: International journal of psychophysiology 2021-04, Vol.162, p.130-144
• Main Authors: Thuillard, Simon, Dan-Glauser, Elise S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Emotion regulation strategy; Negative experience; Non-meaningful choice; Physiological arousal; Situation selection
• ISSN: 0167-8760; 1872-7697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.02.009

Situation selection consists in choosing an upcoming emotional situation in order to regulate emotions. It was found to be a strategy with powerful effects on emotional negative experience and physiological arousal. Situation selection is supposed to be efficient through the empowering effect of choice itself. In the present study, we wanted to replicate results on Situation selection efficiency and explore its limits by examining the implications of a non-meaningful choice procedure preceding the emotional trigger, expecting that even this non-meaningful choice would be regulatory. Sixty-one participants (40 females, mean age 21.4 years) were presented with emotional pictures, either with no particular instruction (no regulation) or with the task to make a choice between two options. This task was either a classical Situation selection task, with the label corresponding to the image that could be later seen (Word Situation selection), or non-meaningful options (Non-word Situation selection). The effect of Situation selection for negative experience was replicated. Effects on physiological arousal showed reduced heart rate and respiratory rate at the end of the viewing period, particularly for positive viewing. In negative viewing, Non-word Situation selection did not reduce negative experience, but did reinforce the calming effect of Situation selection on heart and respiratory rate. These results confirm Situation selection as a valid emotion regulation strategy, particularly regarding physiological arousal. Significant understanding of the options seems to constitute a strategic part of the regulation on the full spectrum of emotion responses but is not mandatory if only some specific physiological responses are targeted. •Situation selection regulates emotional experience and physiological arousal.•Having the choice seems to play a capital role in the regulatory process.•Giving non-meaningful options in choices impedes regulation of negative experience.•But non-meaningful options in choices still retain respiratory and cardiac regulation.