Sealing the emotions genie: the effects of physical enclosure on psychological closure

Psychological Science
Xiuping LiDilip Soman

Abstract

This research investigated whether the physical act of enclosing an emotionally laden stimulus can help alleviate the associated negative emotions. Four experiments found support for this claim. In Experiments 1a and 1b, emotional negativity was reduced for participants who placed a written recollection of a regretted past decision or unsatisfied strong desire inside an envelope. However, enclosing a stimulus unrelated to the emotional experience did not have the same effect (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, we showed that the effect was not driven by participants simply doing something extra with the materials, and that the effect of physical enclosure was mediated by the psychological closure that participants felt toward the event.

References

Jul 1, 1987·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·D M WegnerT L White
Dec 1, 1993·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·D M WegnerS Zanakos
Apr 6, 2002·Psychological Science·Lera Boroditsky, Michael Ramscar
Mar 5, 2003·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Margaret Wilson
Aug 4, 2005·Memory·Denise R Beike, Erin T Wirth-Beaumont
Sep 9, 2006·Science·Chen-Bo Zhong, Katie Liljenquist
May 1, 2007·Memory·Denise R BeikeErin T Wirth-Beaumont
May 19, 2007·Science·Paula M Niedenthal
Oct 25, 2008·Psychological Science·Chen-Bo Zhong, Geoffrey J Leonardelli
May 28, 2009·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Paula M NiedenthalNicolas Vermeulen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 19, 2014·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Gregory Francis
Aug 14, 2013·Psychological Science·Ping DongRobert S Wyer
Aug 24, 2013·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Johanna Peetz, Anne E Wilson
May 12, 2020·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Spike W S Lee, Norbert Schwarz
Jul 23, 2021·The British Journal of Social Psychology·Blake QuinneyLydia Woodyatt

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Hypknowsis

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Brian P MeierKatie Schjeldahl
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Thomas W Schubert
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved