The interpersonal correlates of believing emotions are controllable

Our beliefs about whether emotions are controllable influence how we approach our own emotions – but what about others’ emotions? Such beliefs should shape how we respond to others, but past literature suggests two competing hypotheses: if believing someone else’s emotions are controllable has similar beneficial outcomes as believing one’s own emotions are controllable, such beliefs may predict more supportive interpersonal responding. Alternatively, if believing someone else’s emotions are controllable instead activates evaluative social judgments, such beliefs may predict more unsupportive interpersonal responding. Across two studies Needs to read (Ns 309, 314), believing a depressed person’s emotions were more (vs. less) controllable predicted more unsupportive interpersonal responses: more negative responses (e.g., more avoidance) and less positive responses (e.g., less support). These beliefs were also associated with a greater likelihood of trying to regulate the person’s emotions across various emotion regulation tactics. Our results suggest that beliefs about emotion controllability have important implications for how we respond to others experiencing depression and distress.