Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Regulating emotion through distancing: A taxonomy, neurocognitive model, and supporting meta-analysis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Powers, JP; LaBar, KS
Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
January 2019

Distancing is a type of emotion regulation that involves simulating a new perspective to alter the psychological distance and emotional impact of a stimulus. The effectiveness and versatility of distancing relative to other types of emotion regulation make it a promising tool for clinical applications. However, the neurocognitive mechanisms of this tactic are unclear, and inconsistencies in terminology and methods across studies make it difficult to synthesize the literature. To promote more effective research, we propose a taxonomy of distancing within the broader context of emotion regulation strategies; review the effects of this tactic; and offer a preliminary neurocognitive model describing key cognitive processes and their neural bases. Our model emphasizes three components-self-projection, affective self-reflection, and cognitive control. Additionally, we present results from a supporting meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies of distancing. These efforts are presented within the overarching goals of supporting effective applications of distancing in laboratory, clinical, and other real-world contexts, and advancing understanding of the relevant high-level cognitive functions in the brain.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews

DOI

EISSN

1873-7528

ISSN

0149-7634

Publication Date

January 2019

Volume

96

Start / End Page

155 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Models, Psychological
  • Models, Neurological
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Emotions
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Brain
  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Powers, J. P., & LaBar, K. S. (2019). Regulating emotion through distancing: A taxonomy, neurocognitive model, and supporting meta-analysis. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 96, 155–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.023
Powers, John P., and Kevin S. LaBar. “Regulating emotion through distancing: A taxonomy, neurocognitive model, and supporting meta-analysis.Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 96 (January 2019): 155–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.023.
Powers JP, LaBar KS. Regulating emotion through distancing: A taxonomy, neurocognitive model, and supporting meta-analysis. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. 2019 Jan;96:155–73.
Powers, John P., and Kevin S. LaBar. “Regulating emotion through distancing: A taxonomy, neurocognitive model, and supporting meta-analysis.Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 96, Jan. 2019, pp. 155–73. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.023.
Powers JP, LaBar KS. Regulating emotion through distancing: A taxonomy, neurocognitive model, and supporting meta-analysis. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. 2019 Jan;96:155–173.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews

DOI

EISSN

1873-7528

ISSN

0149-7634

Publication Date

January 2019

Volume

96

Start / End Page

155 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Models, Psychological
  • Models, Neurological
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Emotions
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Brain
  • Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences