This research explores trigger warnings as an interpersonal emotion-regulation strategy, introducing a temporal dimension to interpersonal emotion-regulation by regulating others' future, anticipated emotions. Across studies, believing that trigger warnings are protective (versus coddling) increased their effect on anticipated negative affect, but weakened their effect on experienced negative affect. Study 1 demonstrated that anticipated anxiety for warned-of content predicts intentions to avoid information. Furthermore, beliefs about trigger warnings as protective (versus coddling) best predicted anticipated anxiety for warned-of content and subsequent intentions to avoid. In Study 2, participants had higher anticipated negative affect for videos with trigger warnings, compared to those without, and this mediated increased avoidance for warned-of videos. In Study 3, trigger warnings preceding essays increased anticipated negative affect and attentional-regulation strategies, but reduced experiences of negative affect. For more information, please see the article Gainsburg, I., & Earl, A. (2018). Trigger warnings as an interpersonal emotion-regulation tool: Avoidance, attention, and affect depend on beliefs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 79, 252–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.08.006
Citation to related publication:
Gainsburg, I., & Earl, A. (2018). Trigger warnings as an interpersonal emotion-regulation tool: Avoidance, attention, and affect depend on beliefs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 79, 252–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.08.006
