The DOI matches its Crossref record; 112 of the 113 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Self-regulatory perseveration and the depressive self-focusing style: A self-awareness theory of reactive depression.
Abstract
In this article, we apply theory and research on self-focused attention and self-regulatory processes to the problem of depression and use this framework to integrate the roles played by a variety of psychological processes emphasized by other theories of the development and maintenance of depression. We propose that depression occurs after the loss of an important source of self-worth when an individual becomes stuck in a self-regulatory cycle in which no responses to reduce the discrepancy between actual and desired states are available. Consequently, the individual falls into a pattern of virtually constant self-focus, resulting in intensified negative affect, self-derogation, further negative outcomes, and a depressive self-focusing style in which he or she self-focuses a great deal after negative outcomes but very little after positive outcomes. Eventually, these factors lead to a negative self-image, which may take on value by providing an explanation for the individual's plight and by helping the individual avoid further disappointments. The depressive self-focusing style then maintains and exacerbates the depressive disorder. We review findings from laboratory studies of mild to moderately depressed people, correlational studies of more severely depressed people, and clinical observations with respect to consistency with the theory. Recent empirical research on depression has yielded a wide
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“whose reduction is a core aspect of addiction (e.g., Hull 1981) and mood disorders (e.g., Pyszczynski & Greenberg 1987) also associated with motivational states (Boekaerts, 1999) and stress reactivity (Rith-Najarian et al., 2014).”
From Alteration of hypnotic experience following transcranial electrical stimulation of the left prefrontal cortex (2023) · cites this paper as Pyszczynski & Greenberg 1987
In the citing paper
“For example, depressed individuals use more first-person singular pronouns (eg, “I,” “me,” “my”) than nondepressed individuals [14,15], indicating increased self-focused attention, a language use consistent with Pyszcynski and Greenberg’s [16] integrative model of depression.”
From Behavioral Activation and Depression Symptomatology: Longitudinal Assessment of Linguistic Indicators in Text-Based Therapy Sessions (2021) · cites this paper as [16]
Citations
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Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990) · Imagination, Cognition and Personality · doi:10.2190/dugg-p24e-52wk-6cdg · Cited by 10,484
Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition.
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Dickerson, S. S., & Kemeny, M. E. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.3.355 · Cited by 5,881
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Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs
Taber, C. S., & Lodge, M. (2006) · American Journal of Political Science · doi:10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00214.x · Cited by 4,344
Metadata
- Authors
- Pyszczynski, T., & Greenberg, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (US)
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 1987
- Volume
- 102
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 122-138
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2067373654
- Cited by
- 825
- References
- 113
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 29.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- reactive depression, self-focus, self-awareness, self-worth, self-derogation, negative self-concept, depression maintenance, negative affect
- MeSH terms
- Adjustment Disorders, Awareness, Cognition, Humans, Psychoanalytic Theory, Self Concept
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- CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Self-regulatory perseveration and the depressive self-focusing style: A self-awareness theory of reactive depression. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1037/0033-2909.102.1.122
- The paper
- Pyszczynski, T., & Greenberg, J. (1987). Self-regulatory perseveration and the depressive self-focusing style: A self-awareness theory of reactive depression. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.102.1.122
