From a distance: Implications of spontaneous self-distancing for adaptive self-reflection.
Open accessAbstract
Although recent experimental work indicates that self-distancing facilitates adaptive self-reflection, it remains unclear (a) whether spontaneous self-distancing leads to similar adaptive outcomes, (b) how spontaneous self-distancing relates to avoidance, and (c) how this strategy impacts interpersonal behavior. Three studies examined these issues demonstrating that the more participants spontaneously self-distanced while reflecting on negative memories, the less emotional (Studies 1-3) and cardiovascular (Study 2) reactivity they displayed in the short term. Spontaneous self-distancing was also associated with lower emotional reactivity and intrusive ideation over time (Study 1). The negative association between spontaneous self-distancing and emotional reactivity was mediated by how participants construed their experience (i.e., less recounting relative to reconstruing) rather than avoidance (Studies 1-2). In addition, spontaneous self-distancing was associated with more problem-solving behavior and less reciprocation of negativity during conflicts among couples in ongoing relationships (Study 3). Although spontaneous self-distancing was empirically related to trait rumination, it explained unique variance in predicting key outcomes.
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Immersion may amplify emotional and behavioral reactivity to internal experience.
“whereas immersion may amplify emotional and behavioral reactivity to internal experience”
From The metacognitive processes of decentering scale: Development and initial validation of trait and state versions (2020) · cites this paper as Ayduk & Kross, 2010
The General Discussion (page unavailable) reports less emotional reactivity with greater self-distancing while reflecting on negative experiences, supporting the emotional part of the claim. Study 3’s Summary and Discussion (page unavailable) reports that people low in self-distancing more strongly reciprocated their partners’ negative behavior. That supports a behavioral association in interpersonal conflicts, but not the broader claim of behavioral reactivity to internal experience generally. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBrief therapeutic exercises that stimulate a decentred self-perspective reduce negative emotional reactivity towards stressors such as unpleasant memories and negative self-relevant statements.
“Indeed, brief therapeutic exercises that stimulate a decentred self-perspective have been shown to reduce negative emotional reactivity towards stressors like unpleasant memories and negative self-relevant statements.9–13”
From Protocol for a randomised controlled trial investigating an intervention to boost decentering in response to distressing mental experiences during adolescence: the decentering in adolescence study (DECADES) (2022) · cites this paper as [9]
The Abstract reports that directing people to reflect on negative autobiographical experiences from a self-distanced perspective reduced short-term emotional reactivity. The General Discussion reports a similar association for spontaneous self-distancing. Our copy does not establish the claimed effect for negative self-relevant statements, and the paper's own studies examine spontaneous self-distancing rather than brief therapeutic exercises. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDecentering may facilitate equanimity and behavioral choice.
“decentering may facilitate equanimity and behavioral choice (Ayduk & Kross, 2010; Bernstein et al., 2015; Kross & Ayduk, 2017; Kross & Grossmann, 2012; Shoham, Hadash, & Bernstein, 2018; Verduyn, Mechelen, Kross, Chezzi, & Bever, 2012).”
From The metacognitive processes of decentering scale: Development and initial validation of trait and state versions (2020) · cites this paper as Ayduk & Kross, 2010
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References 128 · Cited by 347
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Hedges LV Olkin I 1985 Statistical methods for meta-analysis San Diego, CA Academic Press
- Authors
- Ayduk, Ö., & Kross, E.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 2010
- Volume
- 98
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 809-829
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- PMC
- PMC2881638
- OpenAlex
- W1978108946
- Cited by
- 347
- References
- 128
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 33.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH069703)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- negative memories, emotional reactivity, cardiovascular reactivity, memory reconstruction, avoidance, rumination, interpersonal conflict, couples, problem-solving behavior
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Conflict, Psychological, Female, Humans, Male, Self Concept, Psychological Distance, Young Adult
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