The decentering component of mindfulness reduces reactions to mental imagery.
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Four experiments examined whether reactions to mental imagery can be reduced by the mindfulness component of decentering, i.e. the insight that experiences are impermanent mental states.In Experiment 1, participants vividly imagined an unpleasant autobiographical event (1a, 1b) or a rewarding food (1c).When instructed to adopt a decentering perspective in comparison to an immersed perspective during imagery, participants experienced less negative affect and fewer cravings to eat.In Experiment 2, participants were exposed to an attractive or a neutral food, and we assessed salivation and eating-related imagery.While imagery did not differ between groups, the attractive food elicited less salivation in decentering relative to control participants.We suggest that decentering can make one's imagery of consuming a food and of reliving of negative experiences less compelling, and thus reduce affective responses to both unpleasant and rewarding imagery, even if the imagery itself is kept active in mind.
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In both the mindful and sham decentering groups, the metaphor of a waterfall was used, and there was a similar structure, wording, length, and calmness.
“In both the mindful and sham decentering groups, the metaphor of a waterfall was used, and there was a similar structure, wording, length, and calmness (e.g., see Keesman et al., 2020; Papies et al., 2015).”
From Mindfulness Effects on Anxiety: Disentangling the Role of Decentering and Treatment Expectations (2024) · cites this paper as Keesman et al., 2020
The Materials section (p. 7) says the decentering and control instructions had similar length and structure, and describes a waterfall metaphor for decentering. It describes the control instruction using a different illustration—a remembered funny event—rather than a waterfall. The paper does not establish that the two instructions had similar wording or calmness. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMindfulness practice promotes a decentered perspective wherein individuals observe their thoughts and feelings as transient mental events rather than reflections of the self or reality.
“Mindfulness practice promotes a decentered perspective wherein individuals observe their thoughts and feelings as transient mental events rather than reflections of the self or reality [79, 80].”
From Emotion Regulation as a Mechanism of Mindfulness in Individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety Disorders (2024) · cites this paper as [80]
Mindful decentering, as induced by the waterfall metaphor, was successful in allowing participants to relate to their sensations as transient events that are detached from oneself and that do not reflect reality.
“This indicates that mindful decentering, as induced by the waterfall metaphor, was successful in allowing participants to relate to their sensations as transient events that are detached from oneself and that do not reflect reality (e.g., see Keesman et al., 2020; Papies et al., 2015).”
From Mindfulness Effects on Anxiety: Disentangling the Role of Decentering and Treatment Expectations (2024) · cites this paper as Keesman et al., 2020
The data suggest that the waterfall metaphor, as used previously in other research contexts, is effective for anxiety relief.
“Also, the data suggests that the waterfall metaphor, as used previously in other research contexts (e.g., see Keesman et al., 2020; Papies et al., 2015), is effective for anxiety relief.”
From Mindfulness Effects on Anxiety: Disentangling the Role of Decentering and Treatment Expectations (2024) · cites this paper as Keesman et al., 2020
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- Authors
- Keesman, M., Aarts, H., Häfner, M., & Papies, E. K.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University (NL)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Berlin University of the Arts (DE)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Keesman, Mike
- Venue
- Motivation Science
- Published
- 2020-03
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 34-42
- ISSN
- 2333-8113 (ISSN-L)
- 2333-8121
- OpenAlex
- W2939989772
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 2.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- eprints.gla.ac.uk
- Licence
- cc-by-sa
- Locations
- Motivation Science (publishedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
- Keywords
- decentering, mindfulness, mental imagery, negative affect, food cravings, salivary secretion, autobiographical memory, transience, dietary habits
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