Region-beta_paradox
Region-beta paradox
Psychological phenomenon
The region-beta paradox is the phenomenon that people can sometimes recover more quickly from more distressing experiences than from less distressing ones. The hypothesized reason is that intense states trigger psychological defense processes that reduce the distress, while less intense states do not trigger the same psychological defense processes and, therefore, less effective attenuation of the stress occurs. However, people typically predict intense states to last longer.[1]
The paradox has been observed in the psychological effects of exposure to terrorist attacks.[2] This is likely related to activation of coping, cognitive dissonance and other forms of mental mobilization.[3][4][5]
It has been computationally modelled in an affective computing model.[6]