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The Adaptive Coping with Emotions Model (ACE Model)

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Affect Regulation Training

Abstract

In order to develop an intervention to enhance emotion regulation, it was important to develop a model that describes adaptive emotion regulation. In the Adaptive Coping with Emotions Model (ACE Model), effective emotion regulation is conceptualized as the situation-dependent interaction between seven emotion regulation skills: (1) the ability to be consciously aware of emotions, (2) the ability to identify and correctly label emotions, (3) the ability to identify what causes and maintains one’s emotions, (4) the ability to actively modify emotions in an adaptive manner, (5) the ability to accept and tolerate negative emotions when necessary, (6) the ability to approach and confront situations likely to trigger undesired emotions, and (7) the ability to provide effective self-support in distressing situations. Empirical evidence supports the ACE Model.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Since we consider compassion to be a core component for effective self-support, we have used the term “compassionate self-support” in prior publications.

  2. 2.

    To make this manual easier to read, we will alternate the use of masculine and feminine pronouns throughout the manual even though all of the concepts that are discussed apply equally to both genders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Matthias Berking

  2. Private Practice, Irvine, CA, USA

    Brian Whitley

Authors
  1. Matthias Berking
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  2. Brian Whitley
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Berking, M., Whitley, B. (2014). The Adaptive Coping with Emotions Model (ACE Model). In: Affect Regulation Training. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1022-9_3

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