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When Asking “Why” Does Not Hurt Distinguishing Rumination From Reflective Processing of Negative Emotions
Abstract
Two experiments examined the psychological operations that enable individuals to process negative emotions and experiences without increasing negative affect. In Study 1, type of self-perspective (self-immersed vs. self-distanced) and type of emotional focus (what vs. why) were experimentally manipulated following the recall of an anger-eliciting interpersonal experience. A why focus on emotions from a self-distanced perspective (distanced-why strategy) was expected to enable “cool,” reflective processing of emotions, in which individuals can focus on their experience without reactivating excessive “hot” negative affect. Findings were consistent with this hypothesis. Study 2 replicated these findings and furthermore demonstrated that (a) the degree to which individuals construe their recalled experience in abstract versus concrete terms mediates the effect of the distanced-why strategy and (b) the status of the recalled experience (resolved vs. unresolved) does not moderate the effectiveness of the distanced-why strategy. These findings help disentangle the mechanisms that may allow adaptive working through from those that lead to rumination.
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“Anxiety and depression are global health challenges with the majority of cases emerging before the age of 24 years105,106.”
From Decentering as a core component in the psychological treatment and prevention of youth anxiety and depression: a narrative review and insight report (2021) · cites this paper as [106]
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“…“what” of emotion; Kross et al., 2005, or experiential processing; Watkins, 2004; Watkins & Teasdale, 2004) and focusing on the causes and implications of feelings (the “why” of emotion; Kross et al., 2005, conceptual-evaluative or analytical processing; Watkins, 2004; Watkins & Teasdale, 2004).”
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VENTURING FOR OTHERS WITH HEART AND HEAD: HOW COMPASSION ENCOURAGES SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kross, E., Ayduk, O., & Mischel, W.
- Affiliations
- Columbia University (US)
- University of California, Berkeley
- ORCID
- Kross, Ethan
- Venue
- Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-09
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 709-715
- ISSN
- 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9280
- OpenAlex
- W2100543830
- Cited by
- 603
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 35
- FWCI
- 13.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH39349)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Keywords
- rumination, reflective processing, negative emotions, emotional focus, anger, interpersonal conflict, unresolved conflicts, emotion regulation, working through
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Anger, Conflict, Psychological, Female, Humans, Male, Self Concept
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