Our Research
Do people always know why they feel the way they do?
If not, what are the implications for emotion regulation and well being? In our lab, we study how the ability to attribute emotions to their source impacts various facets of emotion regulation.
We also test whether clinical conditions like suicidality are linked to difficulties in identifying sources of negative emotions. Additionally, we are interested in the impact of information about the source of emotion on the likelihood of receiving emotional support from others.
Source Attribution of Emotion
Selected publications:
Millgram, Y., Goldenberg, A & Nock, K. (in press). Suicidal thoughts are associated with reduced source attribution of emotion. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science (Journal of Abnormal Psychology).
Millgram, Y., Nock, K. M., Bailey, D. D., & Goldenberg, A. (2023). Knowledge about the source of emotion predicts emotion regulation attempts, strategies, and perceived regulation success. Psychological Science, 34(11), 1244-1255. PDF
Emotional Self Harm
Intentional self-harm is one of the most devastating of human behaviors. To date, research on self-harm has focused almost exclusively on physical self-harm. But can self-harm also be emotional? In our lab, we test whether and how people engage in intentional behaviors that increase emotional pain or decrease emotional pleasure. We also test the implications of these behaviors, and whether they are linked to physical self-harm (e.g., self-injury, suicidal thoughts and behaviors).
Selected publications:
Millgram, Y., Mizrahi Lakan, S., Joormann, J., Nahum, M., Shimony, O., & Tamir, M. (2023). Choosing to avoid the positive? Emotion regulation strategy choice in depression. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science (Journal of Abnormal Psychology), 132(6), 669–680. PDF
Millgram, Y., Joormann, J., Huppert, J. D., & Tamir, M. (2015). Sad as a matter of choice?Emotion-regulation goals in depression. Psychological Science, 26, 1216-1228. PDF
Emotion Regulation and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours
Suicide is a leading cause of death, with over 700,000 people who died by suicide in 2019 (WHO, 2021). Emotion regulation difficulties are highlighted as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, much remains unknown about the emotion regulation deficits which are related to suicidality. In our lab, we try to better characterize and understand emotion regulation processes that may contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Selected publications:
Millgram, Y., Coppersmith, D. D., Sheppes, G., Fortgang, R., Goldenberg, A., & Nock, M. (under review). Emotion Regulation in Daily Life among Adults with Suicidal Thoughts. Preprint
Coppersmith, D. D. L., Millgram, Y., Kleiman, E. M., Fortgang, R. G., Millner, A. J., Frumkin, M. R., Bentley, K. H., & Nock, M. K. (2023). Suicidal thinking as affect regulation. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science (Journal of Abnormal Psychology), 132(4), 385–395. PDF