Emotion Dynamics Lab at UBCO

Emotion Dynamics Lab at UBCO Research lab at UBC Okanagan focusing on emotions, mental health, family dynamics, and adolescence. Led by Dr. Jessica Lougheed.

Safer s*x practices support s*xual health and well-being by preventing negative health outcomes (like STIs and unintende...
09/15/2026

Safer s*x practices support s*xual health and well-being by preventing negative health outcomes (like STIs and unintended pregnancy) and increasing positive aspects of s*xuality (like pleasure).

Safer s*x practices include things like:

- Barrier methods (condoms, dental dams)
- Contraception (IUDs, the pill)
- PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) and ART (Antiretroviral therapy)
- STI testing
- Consent

What do they protect against?

Barriers (like external condoms, internal condoms, dental dams, and gloves) can help prevent STIs and pregnancy

Contraception ****(like Intrauterine Devices, the pill, the patch, and the implant) can be used by people with a uterus to help prevent pregnancy

STI testing ****can help prevent the spread of STIs

PrEP ****(Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and **PEP** (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) are medications that can help prevent the spread of HIV

ART ****(Antiretroviral therapy) is a daily medication used to treat and prevent the spread of HIV

Consent

Consent is permission for something to happen. It can be s*xual or non-s*xual (like asking a friend for a hug).

Clear communication about what you like, don’t like, s*xual history, safer s*x practices, and STI status are all important aspects of consent.

Consent ensures that everyone is comfortable and feels safe.

F.R.I.E.S. is a helpful acronym for understanding consent. Consent should be:

**F**reely given

**R**eversible

**I**nformed

**E**nthusiastic

**S**pecific

What do they protect against?

Things that protect against STIs:

- STI testing
- Dental dams
- PrEP, PEP, ART
- Vaccination
- Finger cots and gloves

Things that protect against pregnancy:

- The pill, patch, ring, and implant
- Hormonal IUD
- Copper IUD
- Diaphragms and cervical cups
- Spermicide

Things that protect against both STIs and pregnancy:

- Condoms (internal and external)

People often use media as a way to cope with stress, similar to how people turn to comfort food when they are upset. Spe...
09/14/2026

People often use media as a way to cope with stress, similar to how people turn to comfort food when they are upset. Specifically, comfort media refers to media that increases positive emotions while also reducing distress and creating a sense of safety and ease.

Typically, comfort media is something we have already seen because familiarity makes it feel more predictable and less cognitively demanding, which can help reduce stress and create a sense of control. This predictability supports feelings of safety and ease, while nostalgia increases positive emotions by connecting the media to meaningful past experiences. Therefore, familiar and nostalgic content help regulate negative emotions.

Additionally, comfort media is typically low intensity, meaning that it is not overly stimulating or emotionally intense. Research suggests that this is due to the fact that when people feel stressed, they prefer content that helps calm them rather than make their emotions feel stronger. However, research further suggests that feelings of positivity and familiarity are more important in making media comforting than the level of emotional arousal.

Furthermore, comfort media acts as a form of emotion regulation across different types of stress. For instance, comfort media can regulate stress that comes from physical situations (e.g., illness) or social situations (e.g., conflict). Specifically, research found that across these different contexts, people consistently turn to media for comfort. Moreover, across countries, people found familiar and positive media comforting. However, other aspects, like nostalgia and connectedness to characters varied depending on cultural context.

Therefore, the use of comfort media as a form of emotion regulation is very common. Rather than only being a passive activity, engaging with familiar and positive media may be a purposeful way people manage stress and maintain emotional balance in everyday life.

Grady, S. M., Eden, A., & Wolfers, L. N. (2026). Examining comfort media: A tool for self-regulation and refuge? *Mass Communication and Society*, 245–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2025.2519191

Emotion regulation is important during the job search process because it can impact how people respond to stress and cha...
09/10/2026

Emotion regulation is important during the job search process because it can impact how people respond to stress and challenges while seeking employment. Finding employment can be discouraging when people experience repeated rejection or difficulty finding opportunities. Being able to manage emotions may help people cope more effectively and maintain motivation while searching for work.

Emotion regulation may also influence long-term career experiences, such as coping with workplace stress and maintaining job stability. For example, people with strong emotion regulation abilities may be better able to adapt to workplace challenges without becoming overwhelmed. Moreover, people who are able to manage emotions effectively may feel more confident and capable handling their tasks.

Another important factor connected to career success is job search self-efficacy, or confidence while searching for a job. People with higher job search self-efficacy are more likely to continue searching for work. Additionally, emotion regulation may influence career success by increasing confidence during the job search process.

Additionally, proactivity, which refers to taking action rather than waiting for situations to change, was associated with stronger emotion regulation abilities. However, taking more initiative does not always lead to greater success in finding or maintaining employment. Confidence and emotional coping may matter more during the job search process than simply taking initiative.

Overall, emotion regulation may play an important role in career development by helping people cope with challenges and remain confident during the job search process.

Urquijo, I., Extremera, N., & Solabarrieta, J. (2019). Connecting emotion regulation to career outcomes: Do proactivity and job search self-efficacy mediate this link? *Psychology Research and Behavior Management*, *Volume 12*, 1109–1120. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s220677

Emotions play an important role in how people think, behave, and interact with others. Due to this, advertisements often...
09/08/2026

Emotions play an important role in how people think, behave, and interact with others. Due to this, advertisements often attempt to influence emotions in order to shape attitudes and behaviour. In particular, social advertising focuses on messages related to well-being and social issues, which influence how people think about concepts such as success and stress.

One essential part of social advertising is socially prescribed perfectionism, which refers to feeling pressured to meet the expectations of others. This type of perfectionism is related to anxiety and stress, especially among young people who are more sensitive to social approval. Advertisements promoting unrealistic standards or constant success may contribute to socially prescribed perfectionism.

However, emotion regulation strategies may influence how individuals respond to these pressures. One common strategy is cognitive reappraisal, which involves changing how a situation is interpreted to reduce negative emotions. Another strategy is suppression, which refers to hiding emotional expressions without reducing the emotion itself. Suppression has been associated with poorer well-being and increased stress, but reappraisal may help reduce some of the negative effects linked to perfectionism and social pressure.

Additionally, people who experience greater pressure from social expectations used suppression more frequently and reported higher socially prescribed perfectionism. However, there are mixed results within the literature as to whether age and gender are related to emotion regulation strategy selection and socially prescribed perfectionism.

Overall, social expectations and advertising messages may influence both emotion regulation and feelings of pressure, particularly among people who are sensitive to social approval and unrealistic expectations.

Georgakopoulou, V., & Armakolas, S. (2025). Mental health strategies in the context of social advertising. *European Journal of Social Sciences Studies*, *11*(2), 131–134. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v11i2.1975

Emotion regulation is important for understanding consumer behaviours, as it can influence how people make decisions in ...
09/01/2026

Emotion regulation is important for understanding consumer behaviours, as it can influence how people make decisions in everyday situations. Impulsive buying, which refers to unplanned purchases driven by a sudden urge, is often influenced by emotions. Both positive and negative emotions can increase the likelihood of impulsive purchases, making it difficult for some people to control their spending. For example, positive emotions may encourage spending for enjoyment, while negative emotions may lead people to spend as a way to cope.

Different emotion regulation strategies can have different effects on behaviour. One common strategy is cognitive reappraisal, which involves reinterpreting a situation to change its emotional impact. Another strategy is suppression, which refers to holding back emotional expression. However, when people try to suppress their emotions, they may actually experience stronger emotional reactions. For instance, research found that people who used suppression while shopping tended to make more impulsive purchases and spend more money compared to those who did not use a specific strategy. However, reappraisal, unlike suppression, did not lead to more impulsive buying and showed similar levels of spending compared to those who did not use a specific strategy. Additionally, long-term patterns of emotion regulation also influence impulse purchasing. For instance, people who regularly use reappraisal (trait reappraisal) were better able to manage impulsive behaviour when experiencing negative emotions.

Overall, how people regulate their emotions can shape impulsive spending. For example, while some strategies, like suppression, may unintentionally increase impulsive behaviour, other strategies, like reappraisal, may be more helpful over time. This suggests that consistently using effective strategies may help people make more controlled and intentional decisions in everyday situations.

Van Overveld, M. (2016). Emotion regulation can be costly: A study on the effects of emotion regulation strategies on impulsive purchases in consumers. *Innovative Marketing*, *12*(1), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.21511/im.12(1).2016.04

Emotion regulation is important for understanding how people interpret and respond to criticism in romantic relationship...
08/25/2026

Emotion regulation is important for understanding how people interpret and respond to criticism in romantic relationships. Since criticism is a common part of communication, how it is experienced can influence both relationship satisfaction and individual well-being. However, not all criticism is perceived in the same way. While some forms are seen as hostile, others are viewed as constructive and helpful. These differences in perception can shape how criticism affects relationships.

One factor that influences whether criticism is viewed as hostile or helpful is how people regulate their emotions. For instance, people who have more difficulty regulating their emotions are more likely to interpret criticism as hostile. Similarly, people who rely more on suppression, which means to hold back emotional expression, also tend to perceive criticism as hostile.

Additionally, emotion regulation can influence both the individual and their partner. For example, when someone relies on suppression or has difficulty regulating their emotions, interactions are more likely to be experienced as negative by both people. This is because dysregulated emotions can shape how people express themselves and respond to each other. In contrast, cognitive reappraisal, or the ability to reframe situations, can support more positive interpretations. In particular, people who use reappraisal are more likely to view criticism as constructive, especially during conversations where the intent of the message is less clear. Therefore, emotion regulation can influence how interactions are perceived and how they unfold between partners.

Overall, emotion regulation is important in shaping how criticism is understood in relationships. Instead of criticism being inherently negative or positive, how it is perceived depends partly on how people manage their emotions, which can influence relationship quality and communication over time.

Klein, S. R., Renshaw, K. D., Curby, T. W., & George Mason University. (2016). Emotion regulation and perceptions of hostile and constructive criticism in romantic relationships. In *Behavior Therapy* (Vol. 47, pp. 143–154). https://www.elsevier.com/locate/bt

Emotion regulation refers to the process of modifying or adjusting emotional responses to support goals or overall well-...
08/18/2026

Emotion regulation refers to the process of modifying or adjusting emotional responses to support goals or overall well-being. In particular, emotion regulation can influence how strongly emotions are felt, how long they are experienced, and how they are expressed. In academic settings, emotion regulation is especially important because students experience many stressful situations such as exams. To manage stress, students use both internal and external emotion regulation strategies. Internal strategies include self-talk and reinterpreting situations, whereas external strategies refer to changing one’s environment or seeking support.

Emotion regulation is also an important part of handling academic stress as it influences how students respond to feedback. For instance, when students are able to regulate their emotions, they are more likely to use feedback for improvement. In contrast, experiencing strong emotions such as anxiety or frustration can interfere with learning, making it harder to benefit from feedback.

However, reflection, or taking time to think about one’s emotions, can allow students to better understand their emotions and adjust their behaviour. Therefore, activities like reflective journaling help students understand the relationship between their emotions and experiences with feedback, which may help them respond more effectively. Specifically, reflective journaling can improve self-awareness, support emotional stability, and improve well-being.

Overall, emotion regulation is an important part of how students handle academic stress. In particular, the ability to regulate emotions, both internally and externally, allows feedback to be used for improvement rather than discouragement. Additionally, reflection supports this process by helping students understand their emotions and behaviours. Together, these skills support academic success and well-being.

Simion, A., & Stan, C. (2025). Exploring emotional regulation and metaevaluation through

student reflections on feedback in higher education. *Educatia 21*, *31*, 422–430.

https://doi.org/10.24193/ed21.2025.31.45

Are you hoping to join an interdisciplinary classroom where you can explore topics beyond what’s offered at UBCO while c...
08/12/2026

Are you hoping to join an interdisciplinary classroom where you can explore topics beyond what’s offered at UBCO while completing upper-level course requirements? 🧠

The FASS is offering two three-credit, fourth-year psychology student directed seminars, led by student facilitators Nataly and Essence Mayo (member of the Emotion Dynamics Lab! 😊)

To register, email [email protected]

Emotions are often thought to be separate from perception, but emotions may influence how we see the world. For instance...
07/09/2026

Emotions are often thought to be separate from perception, but emotions may influence how we see the world. For instance, emotional states influence what people notice, how they interpret it, and even how the physical environment appears. Therefore, perception is not fully objective but is influenced by our emotions.

One way this happens is through attention. Specifically, emotional experiences impact what people focus on, making certain information stand out more. For example, fear can make potential threats easier to detect, while positive emotions can draw attention toward rewarding or pleasant information. Therefore, emotions do not just change how people feel, but also what they are more likely to see in their surroundings.

Emotions also influence how people process information. Positive emotions (e.g., happiness) are often linked to a broader way of seeing things, allowing people to focus on the overall picture. In contrast, negative emotions (e.g., sadness) tend to narrow focus, leading people to pay closer attention to details and ignore broader information. This can influence how people respond to what is around them, shaping what they notice and how they make sense of it.

Additionally, emotions can change how the physical environment is perceived. For example, hills appear steeper and distances can seem farther depending on how someone feels. Specifically, sadness and fatigue can make physical tasks (e.g., walking up a hill) seem more difficult, and fear can make heights or slopes seem more extreme. One explanation for this is that emotions provide information about the potential effort or cost of an action, which can influence how the environment is perceived.

Overall, emotions influence attention, interpretation, and how the environment appears. Therefore, emotions help people respond more effectively to what is around them, rather than only seeing the world as it objectively is.

Zadra, J. R., & Clore, G. L. (2011). Emotion and perception: The role of affective information. In Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science (Vols. 2–6, pp. 676–685). https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.147

Emotion suppression refers to intentionally holding back emotional expressions, even when emotions are intense. Since em...
07/03/2026

Emotion suppression refers to intentionally holding back emotional expressions, even when emotions are intense. Since emotions play an important role in social interactions, changing how emotions are expressed can impact people’s relationships. For instance, when emotions are openly shared, people can build connection and understanding, but suppressing emotions can sometimes interfere with communication and social bonding.

However, the choice to use suppression and the impact it has are not the same for everyone. For example, cultural values can impact how people understand and express emotions. In contexts that emphasize independence and self-expression, people are generally encouraged to show their emotions openly. In these situations, suppression tends to be used to protect oneself, such as avoiding conflict or hiding vulnerability. Because of this, suppressing emotions is often linked to negative experiences such as, feeling worse emotionally and being less open or responsive in social situations.

In contrast, in contexts that emphasize interdependence and social harmony, suppressing emotions can serve a different purpose. For instance, people who value interdependence may use suppression more regularly and in more situations, such as to protect others’ feelings or maintain group harmony. Additionally, since suppression use may be more common and socially supported for people who value interdependence, it is not associated with the same negative outcomes.

In particular, these contextual differences can influence how suppression use impacts social bonding. For example, when suppression is used in interdependent contexts, people are better able to stay engaged and responsive, even while holding back their emotions.

Overall, the negative outcomes often associated with suppression are not universal but depend on the cultural context in which it is used as well as the reason for using it.

Butler, E. A., Lee, T. L., & Gross, J. J. (2007). Emotion regulation and culture: Are the social consequences of emotion suppression culture-specific? Emotion, 7(1), 30–48. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.7.1.30

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