Dr. Ethan Cross

Research in the space of emotion regulation began with researchers identifying specific tools and then carefully profiling how they work mechanistically across levels of analysis and in different groups. And so we've done that with lots of individual tools and we have identified dozens of

What research has yet to do though, is understand how different tools combine to help people dealing with different situations that they encounter in their lives. What we know is that when you look at how people manage their emotions in their daily lives, they don't restrict themselves to just one tool.

What research has yet to do though, is understand how different tools combine to help people dealing with different situations that they encounter in their lives. What we know is that when you look at how people manage their emotions in their daily lives, they don't restrict themselves to just one tool.

What research has yet to do though, is understand how different tools combine to help people dealing with different situations that they encounter in their lives. What we know is that when you look at how people manage their emotions in their daily lives, they don't restrict themselves to just one tool.

On average, we find that people use between three and four strategies each day to manage that experience. And so we know that people are using multiple tools and we also know that different combinations of tools are working for different people, right? It's not just one combination. We don't yet know why certain tools hang together for certain people.

On average, we find that people use between three and four strategies each day to manage that experience. And so we know that people are using multiple tools and we also know that different combinations of tools are working for different people, right? It's not just one combination. We don't yet know why certain tools hang together for certain people.

On average, we find that people use between three and four strategies each day to manage that experience. And so we know that people are using multiple tools and we also know that different combinations of tools are working for different people, right? It's not just one combination. We don't yet know why certain tools hang together for certain people.

The metaphor I like to use here to make sense of this, which really resonates strongly with me, is to look to physical fitness and exercise, right? When you go to the gym, number one, you don't do one exercise. If you're weight trading, for example, I haven't met anyone who only curls biceps as the only thing they do in the gym, right?

The metaphor I like to use here to make sense of this, which really resonates strongly with me, is to look to physical fitness and exercise, right? When you go to the gym, number one, you don't do one exercise. If you're weight trading, for example, I haven't met anyone who only curls biceps as the only thing they do in the gym, right?

The metaphor I like to use here to make sense of this, which really resonates strongly with me, is to look to physical fitness and exercise, right? When you go to the gym, number one, you don't do one exercise. If you're weight trading, for example, I haven't met anyone who only curls biceps as the only thing they do in the gym, right?

You do a few different things and you actually, you switch up the exercises every single day to meet different kinds of physical demands that you have, physical goals. We also know that different people avail themselves of different physical fitness regiments. So I may lift weights and run and do some high intensity interval training. My wife does Pilates and yoga.

You do a few different things and you actually, you switch up the exercises every single day to meet different kinds of physical demands that you have, physical goals. We also know that different people avail themselves of different physical fitness regiments. So I may lift weights and run and do some high intensity interval training. My wife does Pilates and yoga.

You do a few different things and you actually, you switch up the exercises every single day to meet different kinds of physical demands that you have, physical goals. We also know that different people avail themselves of different physical fitness regiments. So I may lift weights and run and do some high intensity interval training. My wife does Pilates and yoga.

Pilates and yoga works really well for my wife, and what I do works really well for me. So we use multiple tools, and different people use different kinds of tools. I think that actually scaffolds really nicely onto what we're learning about how to be emotionally fit.

Pilates and yoga works really well for my wife, and what I do works really well for me. So we use multiple tools, and different people use different kinds of tools. I think that actually scaffolds really nicely onto what we're learning about how to be emotionally fit.

Pilates and yoga works really well for my wife, and what I do works really well for me. So we use multiple tools, and different people use different kinds of tools. I think that actually scaffolds really nicely onto what we're learning about how to be emotionally fit.

I do. I'm incredibly... deliberate about the tools I use. And I have, I have, it's not haphazard for me. So I have different layers of intervention. So my initial intervention is I use distance self-talk and mental time travel. Those are my first two go-tos. Sometimes I'll throw in creating order around me.

I do. I'm incredibly... deliberate about the tools I use. And I have, I have, it's not haphazard for me. So I have different layers of intervention. So my initial intervention is I use distance self-talk and mental time travel. Those are my first two go-tos. Sometimes I'll throw in creating order around me.

I do. I'm incredibly... deliberate about the tools I use. And I have, I have, it's not haphazard for me. So I have different layers of intervention. So my initial intervention is I use distance self-talk and mental time travel. Those are my first two go-tos. Sometimes I'll throw in creating order around me.

So we know when emotions are feeling really big and out of control, we don't feel like we have order in our minds. Creating order around us compensates for that experience. So I'll do those two or three things. Sometimes though, it's not enough. And I have to ratchet it up and go to another layer of intervention. What I'll do in that point is I'll call some of my emotional advisors up.