Drawing on the regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997), in two stud- ies we examined how self-directed emotions are involved in the regulation of intergroup behavior. Heterosexual male participants had to imagine how they would feel when both discriminating (Study 1) and not discriminating (Studies 1 and 2) against homosexuals, and to indicate their attitude towards them (Study 2). Regulatory Focus was manipulated in both studies through different tasks: the principle of ‘equality and non-discrimination’ was framed either as an ideal self-guide or an ought self-guide (Study 1), and a scrambled sentences task which was unrelated to intergroup relations (Study 2). Results showed that cheerfulness and dejection-related emotions were more intense and better predictors of intergroup attitudes in the promotion focus condition, whereas relaxation- and agitation- related emotions were more intense and better predictors of attitude in the prevention focus condition. These findings suggest that regulatory focus theory contributes to a better understanding of intergroup relations as a function of the self-directed emotions whilst discriminating and not discriminating.