Al enige keren heb ik geschreven over hoe oplossingsgerichte coaches en therapeuten de aandacht van hun cliënten subtiel weten te richten (zie bijvoorbeeld Solution-focused coaches manipulate clients in the direction of their own choice by subtly directing their attention, Redirecting attention from negative to positive in 3 small steps (PCO) en Focusing people’s attention on the desired situation rather than asking them to admit they were wrong. In dit artikel wordt uitgelegd dat oplossingsgerichte professinoals via hun interventies positieve emoties triggeren die op hun beurt cliënten helpen om opener en creatiever te worden in het vinden van oplossingen. Nu is er een interessant nieuw artikel over hoe aandacht en emotieregulatie met elkaar verbonden zijn.
Fixing Our Focus: Training Attention to Regulate Emotion
Heather A. Wadlinger & Derek M. Isaacowitz
Abstract: Empirical studies have frequently linked negative attentional biases with attentional dysfunction and negative moods; however, far less research has focused on how attentional deployment can be an adaptive strategy that regulates emotional experience. The authors argue that attention may be an invaluable tool for promoting emotion regulation. Accordingly, they present evidence that selective attention to positive information reflects emotion regulation and that regulating attention is a critical component of the emotion regulatory process. Furthermore, attentional regulation can be successfully trained through repeated practice. The authors ultimately propose a model of attention training methodologies integrating attention-dependent emotion regulation strategies with attention networks. Although additional interdisciplinary research is needed to bolster these nascent findings, meditative practices appear to be among the most effective training methodologies in enhancing emotional well-being. Further exploration of the positive and therapeutic qualities of attention warrants the empirical attention of social and personality psychologists.
Tags: aandacht, emotieregulatie, focus
