Abstract

Despite strong support for the effects of emotion regulation strategies (ERS) for maintenance of psychopathology, little is known about mechanisms involved in the use of maladaptive ERS, as people beliefs about their emotions. This review aims to understand the characteristics of the link between emotion beliefs and emotion regulation processes. First of all, the review examines main theories, researches, measures and therapeutic methods on this topic. The review highlight that emotion beliefs may influence emotion regulation abilities. Specifically, there is a specific association between beliefs and different ER strategies. Finally, beliefs have a role on development and maintenance of symptoms and mental disorders. Most of studies examined this mechanisms in non clinical samples, so it would be necessary to extend the investigation on the field of psychopathology.