Emotion regulation and high social anxiety: spontaneous and instructed use of cognitive reappraisal to regulate anger

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder and those high in social anxiety (HSA) experience greater anger difficulties compared to those with low social anxiety (LSA). METHODS: This study examined trait and state anger in individuals with HSA (n = 46) and LSA (n = 45). The study also explored group differences in state and trait cognitive reappraisal and the effectiveness of instructed cognitive reappraisal to regulate …