Social sharing of emotion: New evidence and new questions

Sources

• Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00403.x

  Level D Review

  Supports the claim that changes in cognitive and linguistic processes during writing predict better health more than reduced inhibition alone. A review by the paradigm's originator; later meta-analyses report variable effects.

• Nils, F., & Rimé, B. (2012). Beyond the myth of venting: Social sharing modes determine the benefits of emotional disclosure. doi:10.1002/ejsp.1880

  Level B Experiment

  Supports the claim that emotional recovery two days later occurred only when the listener stimulated cognitive work, whereas socio-affective responses produced social integration and an impression of feeling better. A single laboratory study with a film stimulus; the abstract does not report the sample size.

• Rimé, B., Finkenauer, C., Luminet, O., Zech, E., & Philippot, P. (1998). Social sharing of emotion: New evidence and new questions. doi:10.1080/14792779843000072

  Level D Review

  Supports the claims that most emotional experiences are shared soon after they occur and that findings were generally not consistent with the view that sharing alleviates the emotional memory. Narrative review.

Sources

• Nils, F., & Rimé, B. (2012). Beyond the myth of venting: Social sharing modes determine the benefits of emotional disclosure. doi:10.1002/ejsp.1880

  Level B Experiment

  Supports the claim that emotional recovery two days later occurred only when the listener stimulated cognitive work, whereas socio-affective responses produced social integration and an impression of feeling better. A single laboratory study with a film stimulus; the abstract does not report the sample size.

• Brans, K., Van Mechelen, I., Rimé, B., & Verduyn, P. (2013). The relation between social sharing and the duration of emotional experience. doi:10.1080/02699931.2012.762758

  Level C Longitudinal study

  Supports the claims that sharing was associated with shorter emotion episodes, especially socio-affective sharing, and that sharing was not related to residual emotional intensity three days after onset. Observational; sharing was not manipulated.

• Zech, E., & Rimé, B. (2005). Is talking about an emotional experience helpful? Effects on emotional recovery and perceived benefits. doi:10.1002/cpp.460

  Level B Experiment

  Supports the claim that talking about emotions produced perceived benefits without reducing emotional impact compared with control conditions. The role of cognitive work in sharing is discussed rather than directly tested here.

• Rimé, B., Finkenauer, C., Luminet, O., Zech, E., & Philippot, P. (1998). Social sharing of emotion: New evidence and new questions. doi:10.1080/14792779843000072

  Level D Review

  Supports the claims that most emotional experiences are shared soon after they occur and that findings were generally not consistent with the view that sharing alleviates the emotional memory. Narrative review.