How Difficulties Interpreting Emotions Can Affect Relationship Well-Being
Conference Year
January 2020
Abstract
Previous research has indicated that levels of low emotion regulation have negative implications for the wellbeing of romantic relationships (Brennan & Shaver, 1995, Bunter, Diamond, & Hick, 2007; Lopes, Brackett, Nezlek, Schütz, Sellin, & Salovey, 2004). Within in the same construct, individuals that score higher in areas of emotional awareness (i.e., the ability to accurately appraise one’s own emotional responses) demonstrate greater accuracy in perception of emotional expressions (Ciarrochi, Chan, & Bajar, 2001; Gratz & Roemer, 2003). The ability to perceive partner emotional expression has been highlighted in sexual therapy as an important part of emotional communication during sex (Meyners, 1981). We are therefore testing how levels of emotional awareness are connected to accurate identification of emotional faces. Specifically, faces of orgasm have been shown to hold both the muscular features of pain and pleasure, making it ambivalent (Fernandez-Dols, Crivelli, & Carrera, 2011; Hughs & Nicolson, 2008). We believe that individuals with low emotional awareness will perceive these ambivalent faces of orgasm more negatively and overall misidentify correct emotional faces more often. Along with testing emotional face perception we will also gather information about the participants relationships.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Alessandra Rellini
Graduate Student Mentors
Brandon Wyatt
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
Brandon wyatt
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Psychological Science
Primary Research Category
Arts & Humanities
How Difficulties Interpreting Emotions Can Affect Relationship Well-Being
Previous research has indicated that levels of low emotion regulation have negative implications for the wellbeing of romantic relationships (Brennan & Shaver, 1995, Bunter, Diamond, & Hick, 2007; Lopes, Brackett, Nezlek, Schütz, Sellin, & Salovey, 2004). Within in the same construct, individuals that score higher in areas of emotional awareness (i.e., the ability to accurately appraise one’s own emotional responses) demonstrate greater accuracy in perception of emotional expressions (Ciarrochi, Chan, & Bajar, 2001; Gratz & Roemer, 2003). The ability to perceive partner emotional expression has been highlighted in sexual therapy as an important part of emotional communication during sex (Meyners, 1981). We are therefore testing how levels of emotional awareness are connected to accurate identification of emotional faces. Specifically, faces of orgasm have been shown to hold both the muscular features of pain and pleasure, making it ambivalent (Fernandez-Dols, Crivelli, & Carrera, 2011; Hughs & Nicolson, 2008). We believe that individuals with low emotional awareness will perceive these ambivalent faces of orgasm more negatively and overall misidentify correct emotional faces more often. Along with testing emotional face perception we will also gather information about the participants relationships.