Emotion Beliefs: How Thinking About Feelings Impacts Mental Health

The stories we tell ourselves about emotions – what they are, where they reach from and whether we can change them – profoundly shape our well-being. This isn’t simply a matter of philosophical debate; recent research suggests a strong link between our emotions and our beliefs about them, impacting everything from stress levels to our ability to find a more helpful perspective on challenging situations. Understanding these “emotion beliefs” is gaining traction in psychological science, particularly in the wake of increased awareness around mental health challenges intensified by events like the recent pandemic.

A recent study, published on ResearchGate, investigated the connection between the belief in the malleability of emotions – the idea that feelings can be adjusted or are inflexible – and various aspects of mental and emotional health. Researchers at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs, led by Michael A. Kisley, explored whether individuals’ beliefs about their own ability to influence emotions, compared to their beliefs about others’ capacity, played a role in their emotional state. The study involved two groups: college students and members of the general population from the same region.

The Disconnect Between “Me” and “Everyone Else”

The findings revealed a significant pattern: individuals who believed others were better able to modulate their emotions than themselves experienced greater emotional distress. This belief was associated with increased stress, feelings of sadness, a tendency to ruminate, and difficulty adopting a more constructive outlook. Interestingly, this negative association persisted even a month after the initial assessment. Conversely, those who perceived themselves as more capable of regulating their emotions compared to others were more likely to reframe their circumstances in a more positive light a month later.

This isn’t to say that believing in emotional control is a simple fix-all. The researchers emphasize that the study demonstrates a correlation, not necessarily causation. It doesn’t prove that holding a particular emotion belief directly causes emotional distress, but rather that the two are linked. As Manuel Gonzalez, a psychologist at Montclair State University, explains in Scientific American, the ways we think about emotion permeate our lives and are shaped by our experiences.

What Are Emotion Beliefs, Exactly?

The concept of “emotion beliefs” goes beyond simply recognizing that we experience feelings like happiness, anger, and fear. It delves into the underlying assumptions we hold about emotions themselves. Do we believe it’s acceptable to express feelings openly? Are emotions something to be controlled, or are they best left to run their course? Do we hold ourselves to different emotional standards than others? (“Other people can feel sad but I can’t.”) These are all examples of emotion beliefs, and they can vary widely from person to person. A conceptual review published in Frontiers in Psychology in January 2024 highlights that these beliefs are often consistent with common dictionary definitions of emotions as “feelings.”

Study Details and Limitations

The research involved two studies. The first included college students, while the second expanded to include members of the general population. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their beliefs about emotion malleability – both generally and personally – as well as measures of stress, depression, and rumination. While the studies revealed consistent trends, the researchers acknowledge that the findings weren’t identical across both groups. The study design doesn’t allow for conclusions about cause and effect. It’s possible that individuals already experiencing emotional distress may be more likely to believe they have less control over their feelings, rather than the belief itself causing the distress. The researchers also point out the need for future studies with more diverse participant groups to determine if the findings generalize to different populations.

Implications for Well-being and Emotional Regulation

Despite these limitations, the study offers valuable insights into the role of emotion beliefs in mental health. It suggests that challenging the belief that others are better equipped to manage their emotions than we are might be a helpful step towards improving emotional well-being. This doesn’t necessarily mean forcing ourselves to suppress or ignore difficult feelings, but rather recognizing our own capacity for emotional regulation and self-compassion. The research aligns with broader findings on the importance of emotion regulation strategies in reducing anxiety and depression, as noted by Stanford University psychologist James J. Gross in the Scientific American article.

What’s Next: Expanding the Research and Application

Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms linking emotion beliefs and emotional health. Future studies could investigate whether interventions designed to modify these beliefs – such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – can lead to improvements in mental well-being. It would also be valuable to examine how cultural factors and individual experiences shape emotion beliefs. Researchers are also beginning to explore the nuances of emotion beliefs, looking at discrepancies between general beliefs about emotion and personal beliefs, and how these discrepancies predict clinical symptoms. This ongoing investigation promises to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between thoughts, feelings, and overall health.

the takeaway isn’t about achieving perfect emotional control, but about cultivating a more balanced and compassionate relationship with our feelings – and recognizing our own inherent capacity to navigate the emotional landscape of life.