What Is Emotion Regulation?

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Negative affect increases the likelihood of aggression.

Emotion drives behavior, and facial expression can provoke conflict.

Pausing de-escalates the perception of negativity, which can de-escalate impulsive behavior.

Most romantic partners can identify with relational highs and lows. Yet when there is trouble in paradise, calming the storm may be easier than we think—in the moment.

Research explores the power of the pause—taking a “time out” to de-escalate disagreement.

Interrupting Emotional Negativity

Obviously, as a career prosecutor, my message is that domestic violence should be reported to law enforcement. But many couples struggle with verbal aggression and toxic communication patterns, which are enormously destructive to relational quality. Thankfully, there are strategies to reduce negativity.

Annah G. McCurry et al. (2024) explored the link between negative emotion and aggression during couples’ conflict. They recognize that expressed emotion drives behavior and negative affect........

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