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Cited by 461Identity, Memory, and TherapyAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health via Writing

Making meaning out of negative experiences by self-distancing

Kross, Ethan, Ayduk, Ozlem·2011·Current Directions in Psychological Science
DOI 10.1177/0963721411408883
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Abstract

Both common wisdom and findings from multiple areas of research suggest that it is helpful to understand and make meaning out of negative experiences. However, people’s attempts to do so often backfire, leading them to ruminate and feel worse. Here we attempt to shed light on these seemingly contradictory sets of findings by examining the role that self-distancing plays in facilitating adaptive self-reflection. We begin by briefly describing the “self-reflection paradox.” We then define self-distancing, present evidence from multiple levels of analysis that illustrate how this process facilitates adaptive self-reflection, and discuss the basic science and practical implications of this research.

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Crossref · 10.1177/0963721411408883

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22 of 22 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • A narrow and self-immersed perspective and focus on recounting details and personal reactions might undermine adaptive self-reflection and the resolution of initial post-traumatic stress reactions.

    “Whilst working through the trauma memory is beneficial for constructing an elaborated and organized perspective of the event, a narrow and self-immersed perspective and focus on recounting details and personal reactions might undermine adaptive self-reflection (29) as well as the resolution of initial post-traumatic stress reactions.”

    From Early Linguistic Markers of Trauma-Specific Processing Predict Post-trauma Adjustment (2018) · cites this paper as [29]

  • Analyzing the meaning of memories and experiences from a self-distanced perspective can reap mental health benefits.

    “Kross, Ayduk and colleagues have shown in a novel series of studies that analyzing the meaning of memories and experiences (e.g. thinking about why they may have occurred) from a self-distanced perspective can reap mental health benefits (see Kross & Ayduk, 2011; for a summary).”

    From Beneficial effects of training in self-distancing and perspective broadening for people with a history of recurrent depression (2017) · cites this paper as Kross & Ayduk, 2011

  • Self-distancing from distressing information can be beneficial if participants are provided with functional ways to process the information from a self-distanced stance, in this case using appraisals to broaden perspective.

    “This confirms the findings from earlier work (Kross & Ayduk, 2011) that self-distancing from distressing information can be beneficial (cf. Kuyken & Moulds, 2009) if participants are provided with functional ways to process the information from a self-distanced stance, in this case using appraisals to broaden perspective.”

    From Beneficial effects of training in self-distancing and perspective broadening for people with a history of recurrent depression (2017) · cites this paper as Kross & Ayduk, 2011

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Authors
Kross, E., & Ayduk, O.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • University of California, Berkeley
ORCID
Kross, Ethan
Venue
Current Directions in Psychological Science
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2011-05-24
Volume
20
Issue
3
Pages
187-191
ISSN
  • 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-8721
DOI
10.1177/0963721411408883
OpenAlex
W2156427607
Cited by
460
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 47 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 77 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 11
FWCI
30.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
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
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
Keywords
self-distancing, negative experiences, meaning-making, self-reflection, rumination, emotion regulation

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