The neurophysiological effects of detached and positive reappraisal during the regulation of self-conscious emotions.

Background: While cognitive reappraisal represents a promising emotion regulation strategy in regulating basic emotions, little experimental research has investigated its efficacy in reducing self-conscious emotions such as shame and guilt.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of detached reappraisal and positive reappraisal in regulating feelings of shame and guilt, and also compared the effectiveness of these two strategies using behavioral and event-related potentials.

Method: Thirty-nine participants grouped either in positive reappraisal or detached reappraisal condition were informed to advise the decider to perform a dot-estimation task.