A New Frame on Emotion Regulation in Aging: The Adaptive Positive Tactic Shift

Abstract

Older adults report higher levels of emotional well-being in cross-sectional studies. Despite assertions that older adults are better at regulating emotions, studies investigating emotion regulation (ER) strategies have not found consistent age differences. Instead, we propose a new framework on ER in aging focusing instead on ER tactics (how ER behavior is implemented in specific situations): the age-related Adaptive Positive Tactic (APT) shift hypothesis. Older adults report relatively greater use of positive-approaching tactics, consistent with this hypothesis. Positive-approaching tactics also appear more effective in regulating emotions than negative-receding tactics and thus may be more adaptive. We consider how context influences tactic use and discuss open questions about the hypothesis. With recent longitudinal evidence showing mixed patterns of emotional well-being in aging, the APT shift hypothesis can guide future investigation of within-person changes in ER behavior.