A Computational Cognitive Model Integrating Different Emotion Regulation Strategies

In this paper a cognitive model is introduced which integrates a model for emotion generation with models for three different emotion regulation strategies. Given a stressful situation, humans often apply multiple emotion regulation strategies. The presented computational model has been designed based on principles from recent neurological theories based on brain imaging, and psychological and emotion regulation theories. More specifically, the model involves emotion generation and integrates models for the emotion regulation strategies reappraisal, expressive suppression, and situation modification. The model was designed as a dynamical system. Simulation experiments are reported showing the role of the emotion regulation strategies. The simulation results show how a potential stressful situation in principle could lead to emotional strain and how this can be avoided by applying the emotion regulation strategies decreasing the stressful effects.