Appraisal shifts during reappraisal

How to model the processes involved in regulating emotions via reappraisal? In two studies, we tested whether reappraisal impacts emotions through shifts along appraisal dimensions. In an experimental Study 1, 437 students imagined reliving a recent distressing event and rated their appraisals and emotions before and after using reappraisal to feel less negative about the event. Between 19% and 49% of changes to different emotions were statistically mediated by shifts along ten appraisal dimensions. Latent profile analyses suggested that the appraisal shifts reflected four distinct reappraisal tactics. These findings were conceptually replicated in an intensive longitudinal Study 2, where 168 participants rated their appraisals and emotions in relation to maximum of 3 emotional events for 7 days, first within an hour of the event and again in the evening when they also reported on emotion regulation use (1142 observations). Between 22% and 46% of changes to different emotions accompanying reappraisal use were statistically mediated by shifts along appraisal dimensions. Appraisal shifts were less significant for unregulated and otherwise regulated emotion changes. Relative to Study 1, the latent profile analyses of Study 2 revealed two similar and four novel reappraisal tactics reflecting a broader range of events and feelings. Across both studies, all appraisal dimensions were involved in at least one tactic and no dimension in all of them, highlighting the suitability of multivariate profiles over univariate dimensions for modelling reappraisal. These findings suggest that appraisal shift profiles can be part of a useful model of cognitive processes underlying reappraisal.