Meta-Awareness of Dysregulated Emotional Attention

By: Ruimi L., Hadash Y., Zvielli A., Amir I., Goldstein P., Bernstein A.
Published in: Clinical Psychological Science
SDGs : SDG 03  |  Units: Social Sciences  | Time: 2018 |  Link
Description: We explore the human capacity for and the function(s) of meta-awareness for biased attentional processing of emotional i nformation (MAB) subserving mental (ill) health. We do so by integrating probe-caught sampling methods, signal detection theory, and multilevel modeling of cognitive-experimental laboratory data among daily smokers (N = 75) known to exhibit biased attentional processing of reward-related (drug) cues in addiction. We found (a) evidence of the capacity for and individual differences in MAB; (b) that momentary MAB was most likely observed in the event of the most extreme micro-expressions of biased attentional processing; and (c) that momentary micro-expressions of biased attention without MAB were more likely followed by attentional dysregulation, whereas momentary micro-expressions of biased attention with MAB were more likely followed by more balanced attentional expression or greater attentional control. We discuss the implications for basic and clinical science of meta-awareness. © The Author(s) 2018.