Individual Differences in Automatic and Controlled Regulation of Emotion and Task Performance

Abstract

To examine the previously suggested, but unexamined, relation between emotions and task performance, we propose that individuals differ in their capacity to use fast emotional regulation processes (FERPs), which we define as processes that begin less than 350 msec after being exposed to an emotion evoking stimulus. Results of three laboratory studies show that individual differences in FERPs, but not slow emotional regulation processes (SERPs), predict emotional regulation performance. Results of Study 1 showed that FERPs significantly predicted editing task performance, task satisfaction, and depression after controlling for trait affectivity; whereas SERPs did not show any significant predictions. Study 2 replicated and extended the results of Study 1, and successfully addressed internal validity concerns related to SERPs. In Study 3, FERPs were shown to predict both performance measures when verbal ability and Conscientiousness were controlled. The combined results of these three studies suggest that FERPs may play a critical role in predicting task performance.