Classifying affect-regulation strategies

This paper presents a provisional classification of deliberate strategies f or improving unpleasant affect based on conceptual judgements concerning th eir similarities and differences. A corpus of self-reported upward affect=r egulation strategies was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and gr oup discussions, in conjunction with an examination of existing literature on related topics. A total of 162 distinct strategies were identified and a preliminary categorisation was developed by the investigators. We then con ducted a card-sort task in which 24 participants produced separate classifi cations of the strategies. The similarity matrix arising from co-occurrence data was subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis and the obtained typol ogy provided independent support for our proposed distinctions between stra tegies implemented cognitively and behaviourally, between diversion and eng agement strategies, and between active distraction and direct avoidance, an d for specific lower-level groupings of strategies relating to venting, rea ppraisal, and seeking social support. Potential refinements and application s of the resulting classification system are considered.