Simulating the effect of therapies and traumas on emotion regulation

Matthijs Pontier

Overview of this presentation

● Model of emotion regulation by Gross● Computational model of emotion regulation● Simulating therapies and traumas● Discussion

Goal of this study

● Make computational model of emotion regulation that is able to simulate the effect of therapies and traumas

● Motivation:● Gives insight in the process of emotion regulation● Make predictions about emotions, and behaviour

that is a consequence of emotions● Make agents show human-like emotion regulation

behaviour

Model of emotion regulation by Gross

● The experienced level of emotion can be changed by choosing a different: Situation Last-minute study vs Dinner Sub-situation Talk about exam vs Something else Aspect Distract vs Pay attention Meaning “It’s only a test” vs “It’s really

important” Response Hiding your embarrassment after bad result

● Cognitive-Behavioural Therapies facilitate beneficial use of emotion regulation strategies

Model of emotion-regulation by Gross

The computational model

● Emotional Values of elements that are chosen are expressed in real numbers [0, 2] Situation Selection = 1.12

● The chosen situation has an emotion-level of 1.12

● The Emotion-Response-Level is also expressed in a real number [0, 2]

● The Emotion-Response-Level is influenced by the Emotional Values

● The chosen Emotional Values are influenced by the Emotion-Response-Level

Model in layers

Emotion-Response-Level

Emotional Values vn

Modification Factors n

Personal Tendency n

LeadsTo simulation of the model

● Initially low n’s● n’sset to value for good adaptive behaviour● n’s rise during simulation, which leads to

adaptive behaviour● Small n’sresult in under adaptation● Big n’sresult in over adaptation

Simulation: Under adaptation

● Low n’s● Low n’s

Formula for simulating events

● n = * Event / (1 + (n - basic

) * Event)

● New_n = Old_n + n

● = variable which represents influencability of n● Event = Certain event which influences n

e.g., Therapy (positive) or Trauma (negative)

● basic is the ‘basic personal tendency you are born with’

Behaviour of the formula

• = 0.3

• n = 0.1

• basic

= 0.5

• Event = x-axis

• n = y-axis

Model in layers

Emotion-Response-Level

Emotional Values vn

Modification Factors n

Personal Tendency n

Experiences (e.g., Therapy / Trauma)

Simulation: Succesful therapy

● Initial low n’s and n’s● Successful therapy at timepoint 40

Simulation: Series of events

● Initial low n’s and n’s● Timepoint 20: Succesful therapy● Timepoint 40: Trauma● Timepoint 60: Therapy to deal with trauma● Timepoint 80: Mild trauma

Simulation: Series of events

Discussion

● Emotion regulation model was able to simulate effects of events like therapy or trauma

● Many improvements can still be made Introducing decay for n

Variable ability to recognize emotional state

Response modulation could have long-term effects

Make events also influence modification factors, so a trauma can cause a relapse

Questions?