Examining Cognitive Reappraisal in Development: The Role of Parents

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

There has been a growing shift in emotion regulation (ER) research with an increased focus on strategies, such as cognitive reappraisal (CR), which have been considered to be more adaptive when applied in appropriate contexts. Parents’ role in this development has received minimal attention, but there seems to be a trend linking parent’s own use of CR and their socialization practices affecting the development of child CR. The presentations examine CR at different developmental periods, focusing on parent’s own CR, different forms of socialization practices, and child’s CR, collected using multiple methodologies.
The first presentation examines 5-8-year-olds neurocognitive markers of reappraisal during a reappraisal task through the late positive potential (LPP) of an event-related potential (ERP). Parental scaffolding behaviors are examined as potential contributors to children’s LPP. The second presentation draws a focus on parent’s own ER difficulties and socialization practices in response to 4-11-year-old’s emotions. Socialization practices of unsupportive (minimizing) strategies are contextualized as CR; additional analyses will examine parenting factors in relation to child ER strategies. The final presentation examines the relationship between adolescent CR and maternal CR; maternal socialization practices, such as supportive and unsupportive reactions to adolescents’ negative emotions, are examined as moderators in this relationship.
These studies allow for discussion focusing on CR in multiple contexts, as well as the interplay between parent’s CR, parental socialization, and children’s own CR. By focusing on the role of parents during different developmental periods, these studies distinguish between effectiveness of different parenting practices for children’s developing CR.

Sub Unit

• Social, Emotional, Personality

Chair

• Tatiana Meza-Cervera, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Discussant

• Elizabeth L Davis, University of California - Riverside

Individual Presentations

• Observed Parental Spontaneous Scaffolding Predicts Neurocognitive Signatures of Child Emotion Regulation - Presenting Author: Sarah Myruski, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Non-Presenting Author: Tracy A. Dennis, City University of New York Hunter College

• Contextualizing Minimizing Forms of Cognitive Reappraisal: Is Telling Kids, “It’s Not a Big Deal,” a Big Deal? - Presenting Author: Laura Deloretta, University of California - Riverside; Non-Presenting Author: Elizabeth L Davis, University of California - Riverside

• Maternal Reactions to Adolescent’s Negative Emotions Moderate the Association Between Maternal and Adolescent Cognitive Reappraisal - Presenting Author: Tatiana Meza-Cervera, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Non-Presenting Author: Martha Ann Bell, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University