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REVIEW article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1425850
This article is part of the Research Topic Emotional Regulation and Human Flourishing: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives View all 9 articles

Emotional regulation and self-ideal: a way to flourishment

Provisionally accepted
Fatima Ruiz Fuster Fatima Ruiz Fuster 1*Aurora Bernal Aurora Bernal 2Martín F. Echavarría Martín F. Echavarría 3
  • 1 International University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
  • 2 University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarre, Spain
  • 3 Abat Oliba CEU University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The convergence of researchers in the fields of flourishing, moral psychology, and social-emotional studies has reached a stage where developing a theory that connects emotional regulation and flourishing is meaningful. This theoretical investigation aims to uncover insights from the research of Magda B. Arnold, renowned for her theory of emotions, and lesser-known for her notion of the self-ideal, regarding the relationship between emotional regulation and flourishing. Our initial hypothesis posits that Arnold's concept of self-ideal provides a framework for understanding how to foster emotional regulation in individuals by directing it towards constructive life objectives. To achieve this, we explore the current state of emotional regulation and flourishing and the relationship between these concepts; we consider the interconnectedness of emotion and self-ideal within Arnold's theory and analyze its potential to serve as a foundation for building a theory relating flourishing and emotional regulation. We find in Arnold's theory substantial ideas about the relationship between emotional regulation, flourishing, and self-ideal, as well as emerging empirical research relating to these themes. We conclude that Arnold's research can serve as a catalyst for developing psychological intervention models that enhance emotional regulation and promote a flourishing life.

    Keywords: emotional regulation, flourishing, self-ideal, Arnold, appraisal, Theory of emotions, Motivation

    Received: 30 Apr 2024; Accepted: 29 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ruiz Fuster, Bernal and Echavarría. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Fatima Ruiz Fuster, International University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.