Working Memory Capacity and Emotion Regulation
Abstract
It will be assessed whether working memory capacity (WMC) facilitates the use of emotion regulation strategies. A preceding study has shown that those with higher WMC successfully self-enhance in order to reduce negative affect compared to those with low WMC (Schmeichel & Demaree, 2010). To expand this literature, the present study will investigate if WMC facilitates the use of two different emotion regulating strategies. In the first part of the study, participants will be grouped based on assessment of their working memory capacity (high vs. low). Thereafter, all participants complete an emotion regulation task that will require them to down-regulate their negative emotions using reappraisal and attentional deployment. If the hypothesis is correct, those with higher WMC should self-report lower negative affect when using both regulation strategies. These findings would consolidate the conclusion that those with higher WMC have the resources to better regulate their emotions compared to those with lower WMC.
A part of understanding cognitive ability requires addressing the magnitude of individual differences that exist. Baddley (2001) referred to these individual differences as the existing focus of working memory research in North America. Working memory capacity (WMC) is one aspect of the memory system that has been widely addressed for its finite nature differing from person to person. The operational definition of WMC is the number of items that can be maintained during a complex task (Barrett, Tugade, & Engle, 2004). These complex working memory tasks concurrently require both storage and processing of competing information. However, the conceptual definition of WMC is less agreed upon. There are multiple aspects of working memory that have been identified, but it is not fully understood which components interact, or contribute the most to differences in capacity. Focusing on the ability to discern capacity itself,
It will be assessed whether working memory capacity (WMC) facilitates the use of emotion regulation strategies. A preceding study has shown that those with higher WMC successfully self-enhance in order to reduce negative affect compared to those with low WMC (Schmeichel & Demaree, 2010). To expand this literature, the present study will investigate if WMC facilitates the use of two different emotion regulating strategies. In the first part of the study, participants will be grouped based on assessment of their working memory capacity (high vs. low). Thereafter, all participants complete an emotion regulation task that will require them to down-regulate their negative emotions using reappraisal and attentional deployment. If the hypothesis is correct, those with higher WMC should self-report lower negative affect when using both regulation strategies. These findings would consolidate the conclusion that those with higher WMC have the resources to better regulate their emotions compared to those with lower WMC.
A part of understanding cognitive ability requires addressing the magnitude of individual differences that exist. Baddley (2001) referred to these individual differences as the existing focus of working memory research in North America. Working memory capacity (WMC) is one aspect of the memory system that has been widely addressed for its finite nature differing from person to person. The operational definition of WMC is the number of items that can be maintained during a complex task (Barrett, Tugade, & Engle, 2004). These complex working memory tasks concurrently require both storage and processing of competing information. However, the conceptual definition of WMC is less agreed upon. There are multiple aspects of working memory that have been identified, but it is not fully understood which components interact, or contribute the most to differences in capacity. Focusing on the ability to discern capacity itself,