Abstract
Instrumental emotion regulation: people do not only want to feel good. They sometimes select a charged state — anger, anxiety, even sadness — when that current helps the task they have already named.
Tamir, M. (2009). Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(2), 101–105. DOI
Key findings
- Utility over hedonic — A wanted feeling can be useful rather than pleasant.
- Selected, not flooded — The claim is choice of state for a task, not licence to drown the room.
Application
When you already see a pattern (gaze, anger, a needed certainty) and still condemn the need, ask whether the current is being used or suffered. Pair Use versus suffer.