Emotion Controllability Beliefs (Implicit Theories of Emotion)
Research by Maya Tamir, James Gross, and others, including a systematic review by Mathew Sommerville et al. (2024), shows that beliefs about the malleability of emotions—whether they can be controlled or changed—have significant impacts on well-being. · 'Implicit theories of emotion: Affective and social outcomes across a major life transition' (Tamir et al., 2007) and 'Emotion Controllability Beliefs and Young People's Anxiety and Depresion Symptoms: A Systematic Review' (Sommerville et al., 2024) (2007)
Some people view emotions as fized and uncontrollable (enity theory), while others see them as malleable (incremential theory). Those with an incremental theory use more adaptive regulation strategies, experience less anxiety and depression, and cope better with stress.
Core Concepts
The Problem
Can a person's belief about the nature of emotions influence their actual emotional health?
The Claim
Believing that emotions can be managed or changed is self-fulfilling—it leads to greater effort to regulate and better outcomes.
Key Evidence
- •Tamir et al. (2007): In a longitudinal study of college students, those with an incremental theory of emotion had higher well-being and greater social support over a major life transition.
- •Sommerville et al. (2024): A systematic review of 11 studies confirmed that an incremental theory is associated with lower anxiety and depression in youth.
Practical Implication
Interentions that shift people from entity to incremental theories of emotion could improve mental health at scale, for example through brief reading-and-writing exercises.
Nuance & Limits
The effect may be stronger for certain negative emotions; believing that anger can be controlled, for instance, is particularly protective.
Source Material
Citation Density
Related Ideas
The broader conceptual frame that attributes (here emotions) are malleable parallels Dweck's growth mindset about intelligence.
If you believe emotions can be changed, you're more likely to engage in cognitive reappraisal, a powerful regulation strategy.
Gaps
- ⚠ Unclear if the belief change is durable or requires boosters; whether it equally benefits all demographic groups.
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