Failure to Launch Emotion Regulation? without a Default Option of “Doing Nothing,” Participants Frequently Chose to Regulate Their Emotions Effectively

Participants presented with aversive pictures could watch (i.e. “do nothing”), reappraise, or distract. Without a default option of “doing nothing,” they frequently chose emotion regulation strategies that effectively reduced their negative affect. Other researchers assume that “doing nothing” is a passive default whereas we suggest it is an active choice.