Integrating Mindfulness Into The Extended Process Model Of Emotion Regulation: The Dual-Mode Model Of Mindful Emotion Regulation

Abstract

Extensive research has been conducted regarding how people manage their emotions. Within this research, there has been growing attention towards the role of mindfulness in emotion regulation. While prior reviews have discussed mindfulness in the context of emotion regulation, they have not provided a thorough integration using the prevailing models of emotion regulation or mindfulness. The present review discusses the Extended Process Model of Emotion Regulation and Monitoring and Acceptance Theory of mindfulness in order to propose a novel integrated framework, the Dual-mode Model of Mindful Emotion Regulation (D-MER). This model proposes two “modes” of mindfulness: Implementation and facilitation. Implementation posits that mindfulness components act as emotion regulation strategies through attentional deployment and cognitive change. Facilitation posits that mindfulness components act on emotion generation and regulation through effects on cognitive processes and positive or negative valence systems. Empirical and theoretical support for this model are discussed, specific hypotheses to guide further research are provided, and clinical implications are presented. Use of this model may identify mechanisms underlying the interaction between mindfulness and emotion regulation which can be used in ongoing affective and clinical research.