Abstract
Differences in methods of regulating feelings using the trait-anxiety scale were investigated. Miyashita has (1998) analyzed characteristics of feelings, sensations, and behaviors from the standpoint of the logic of negation. Results have indicated that negative-sentence suggestions had an affirmative effect, when the rated feeling was displeasure, regardless of the height of the revitalization degree. This study investigated the effect of differences in trait-anxiety scale scores on negative-sentence suggestions using feelings that were high in displeasure. Participants (n = 110) were classified into two groups based on their scores on the trait-anxiety scale: high and low trait-anxiety groups.Then, participants were induced to feel anxiety or anger by imagining and repeatedly getting suggestions high in displeasure-activity feelings in negative-sentence form. The participants were then requested to rate their feelings and were asked to rate affirmative effects. The results showed that in the low trait-anxiety groups, negative-sentence suggestions had affirmative effects on activity feelings that were high in displeasure. These results suggest trait-anxiety is useful for regulating feelings.
