Individual differences in emotion regulation goals: Does personality predict the reasons why people regulate their emotions?

OBJECTIVE: We investigated how the Big Five traits predict individual differences in five theoretically important emotion regulation goals that are commonly pursued-pro-hedonic, contra-hedonic, performance, pro-social, and impression management.

METHOD: We conducted two studies: (a) a large survey study consisting of undergraduates (N = 394; 18-25 years; 69% female; 56% European American) and community adults (N = 302; 19-74 years; 50% female; 75% European American) who completed a newly developed global measure of individual differences in emotion regulation goals and (b) a 9-day daily diary study with community adults (N = 272; 23-85 years; 50% female; 84% European American) who completed daily reports of emotion regulation goals. In both studies, participants completed a measure of the Big Five.

RESULTS: Across global and daily measures, pro-hedonic goals and pro-social goals were positively associated with Agreeableness, performance goals were positively associated with Openness, and impression management goals were positively associated with Neuroticism. Globally, contra-hedonic goals were also negatively associated with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.

CONCLUSIONS: The Big Five systematically predict the emotion regulation goals people typically pursue. These findings have important implications for understanding why people engage in certain forms of regulatory behavior and why personality has consequences for well-being.