In the evolving landscape of psychological science, understanding how individuals regulate their emotions remains a cornerstone of mental health research. A groundbreaking study published in BMC Psychology by Trentini and Dan-Glauser (2025) provides an in-depth exploration of how maladaptive personality traits influence the efficiency of two prominent response-focused emotion regulation strategies: suppression and acceptance. This study not only sheds light on the intricate mechanisms underlying emotional control but also challenges prevailing assumptions about adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies.
Emotion regulation refers to the processes by which individuals influence which emotions they experience, when they experience them, and how these emotions are expressed. This regulatory capacity is pivotal for psychological well-being and social functioning. Two widely researched response-focused strategies, suppression and acceptance, operate at different stages of the emotional response cycle. Suppression involves inhibiting the outward manifestations of emotion after the emotion has been generated, whereas acceptance entails an open, non-judgmental acknowledgment of emotional experiences.
Trentini and Dan-Glauser’s work is particularly significant as it delves into the relationship between maladaptive personality dimensions—traits that are rigid, pervasive, and often detrimental to interpersonal functioning—and the efficiency of suppression and acceptance strategies. Their research reveals compelling evidence that individuals with maladaptive personality profiles exhibit distinctive patterns of emotion regulation effectiveness, prompting a reevaluation of therapeutic approaches targeting these populations.
At the neuropsychological level, emotion regulation strategies engage complex networks involving the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex. Suppression is often linked with increased cognitive load and heightened sympathetic nervous system activity, suggesting that it may come at a physiological cost despite its immediate efficacy in concealing emotional reactions. Acceptance, on the other hand, is associated with reduced amygdala activation, reflecting a facilitated processing of emotional stimuli without the need for inhibition or avoidance.
Through rigorous experimental design, including self-report questionnaires, psychophysiological measurements, and behavioral assessments, Trentini and Dan-Glauser systematically compared the outcomes of suppression and acceptance among participants stratified according to maladaptive personality traits. They employed sophisticated statistical modeling to parse out variations in emotional response patterns and evaluate the nuanced interactions between personality and regulatory success.
One of the study’s central revelations is that individuals characterized by high levels of maladaptive traits experience impaired regulation when employing suppression, often resulting in exacerbated emotional distress and diminished social functioning. This aligns with the broader literature indicating that suppression may be counterproductive in the long term, potentially increasing rumination and physiological arousal, which fuel negative emotional cycles.
Conversely, acceptance demonstrated superior regulatory outcomes among this cohort, enabling more adaptive processing of emotional experiences. Participants with maladaptive traits who practiced acceptance reported decreased subjective distress and enhanced emotional clarity. This suggests that acceptance can bypass some of the cognitive barriers imposed by maladaptive personality features, fostering a healthier integration of emotional experiences rather than their repression.
This research further explores the implications for clinical interventions targeting individuals with personality disorders or maladaptive personality features. Traditional therapies often emphasize control or alteration of emotional responses; however, the findings advocate for strategies that cultivate acceptance and mindfulness. Such approaches could reconfigure deeply ingrained maladaptive response patterns by promoting emotional awareness and reducing avoidance behaviors.
Moreover, the study underscores the importance of personalized emotional regulation training. It highlights that a one-size-fits-all approach may be ineffective, particularly when maladaptive personality influences the capacity to implement regulatory strategies. Tailored interventions that consider an individual’s personality profile could optimize emotional resilience and psychological flexibility.
The intersection of personality pathology and emotion regulation also has notable ramifications for social psychology. Maladaptive personalities often engender interpersonal difficulties, which are exacerbated by ineffective regulation strategies like suppression. Acceptance, by contrast, appears to facilitate improved social functioning by reducing emotional volatility and fostering genuine emotional expression, thereby potentially improving relational outcomes.
Future research inspired by Trentini and Dan-Glauser’s findings may delve deeper into longitudinal analyses, examining how enduring patterns of suppression or acceptance influence the trajectory of personality disorders and emotional health over time. Such studies could inform preventative mental health strategies by identifying early markers of maladaptive regulation.
This study’s meticulous methodology includes the integration of ecological momentary assessment techniques, capturing emotional regulation in real-world contexts and enhancing ecological validity. This approach provides further evidence that laboratory findings translate into everyday emotional management, particularly among those with complex personality profiles.
Technological advances in neuroimaging and computational modeling hold promise for elucidating the neural correlates of these regulatory dynamics with greater precision. Detailed mapping of brain activity during acceptance and suppression tasks among individuals with maladaptive traits may pave the way for neurofeedback and brain stimulation interventions customized for optimal emotional regulation.
Importantly, the cultural and environmental contexts in which these emotion regulation strategies operate are acknowledged as critical factors. Emotional expressions and coping styles are deeply embedded within social norms, and maladaptive personality traits may interact with these contexts in complex ways, potentially modulating strategy effectiveness. Cross-cultural studies would be invaluable in confirming the universality or specificity of these findings.
In synthesis, this pioneering research integrates personality psychology, affective neuroscience, and clinical science to illuminate the differential impacts of suppression and acceptance on emotional regulation within maladaptive personality frameworks. It advocates for a paradigm shift toward acceptance-based models in both research and practice, carrying profound implications for enhancing mental health outcomes.
As psychological science continues to unravel the complexities of human emotion, studies like this spotlight the critical need for adaptive, individualized strategies that respect the intricacies of personality and the neurobiological substrates of regulation. The promise of fostering psychological well-being through nuanced understanding and novel therapeutic techniques brings us closer to mitigating the challenges posed by maladaptive personalities in an increasingly stress-laden world.
Subject of Research: Maladaptive personality traits and their impact on the effectiveness of response-focused emotion regulation strategies, specifically suppression and acceptance.
Article Title: Maladaptive personality and the efficiency of response-focused emotion regulation strategies: a study on suppression and acceptance.
Article References:
Trentini, E., Dan-Glauser, E. Maladaptive personality and the efficiency of response-focused emotion regulation strategies: a study on suppression and acceptance. BMC Psychol 13, 586 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02873-z
Image Credits: AI Generated
