Inhibition multidimensional model in emotional contexts

Abstract

Currently, inhibition is considered one of the main executive functions responsible for stopping or attenuating the interference generated by prepotent tendencies linked to emotion, thought, or behavior that can interfere with the achievement of objectives. The study of inhibitory functioning has been focused more on neutral (or also called cold) contexts. However, real-world problems are often completely permeated with emotions or emotional signals that different inhibitory processes must suppress or attenuate. Although some studies have been reported on inhibitory functioning with emotional stimuli, the results are contradictory and have not even analyzed this question from a multidimensional inhibition perspective. For these reasons, this chapter addresses inhibitory control processes from a multidimensional perspective in both neutral and emotional contexts. The main theoretical proposals that provide explanations in this regard, experimental evaluation methods, and new lines of work are discussed.