The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 22 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Making Meaning out of Negative Experiences by Self-Distancing
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.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
Citations
Cites
(1993) · Cited by 7,136
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder
Cary, G. L. (1994) · American Journal of Psychotherapy · doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1994.48.1.155 · Cited by 6,299
Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information.
Foa, E. B., & Kozak, M. J. (1986) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.99.1.20 · Cited by 5,396
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wisco, B. E., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1745-6924.2008.00088.x · Cited by 5,172
Delay of gratification in children.
Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Rodriguez, M. L. (1989) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.2658056 · Cited by 3,397
Trope, Y., & Liberman, N. (2003) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.110.3.403 · Cited by 3,006
Writing About Emotional Experiences as a Therapeutic Process
Pennebaker, J. W. (1997) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00403.x · Cited by 2,486
Greicius, M. D., Flores, B. H., Menon, V., Glover, G. H., Solvason, H. B., Kenna, H., Reiss, A. L., & Schatzberg, A. F. (2007) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.09.020 · Cited by 2,214
Brosschot, J. F., Gerin, W., & Thayer, J. F. (2006) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2005.06.074 · Cited by 1,643
Cognitive therapy: Nature and relation to behavior therapy
Beck, A. T. (1970) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(70)80030-2 · Cited by 863
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Kross E., Emotion
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 401–461 of 461
Hirshberg, M. J. (2023) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/phua4 · Cited by 1
Cherniak, A. D. (2023) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/qvrt9
Ostracizers’ mark of disgrace: Social exclusion increases the actor–observer difference
Albath, E. A., Stephan, E., & Greifeneder, R. (2024) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.3030
Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on individuals: Through Active Choices and Passive Adaption
Fang, J., Lau, C. K. M., & Cheng, Y. (2024) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-8325-4481-5
Wachstumsorientiertes Schreiben als Methode der selbstfürsorglichen Reflexion von Frauen
Völschow, Y., Janßen, W., & Schreiber, B. (2024) · PERSON · doi:10.24989/person.v28i2.5
Lisboa, R., Barbosa, E., Moura, I., Salgado, J., & Silva, M. S. (2025) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2025.2451330
Branley-Bell, D., Murphy-Morgan, C. N., & Malowaniec, P. D. (2025) · CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) · doi:10.1145/3706599.3719943
Rodríguez‐Fornells, A., & Clément, F. (2025) · Physics of Life Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.plrev.2025.04.010
Jacques, P. L. S. (2025) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/pmgb7_v1 · Cited by 1
Waggoner, M. (2025) · Philosophical Psychology · doi:10.1080/09515089.2025.2537896
Vivian Zayas, A., Strycharz, S., & Ni, M. (2025) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.70011
Psychodrama und das Körperbild von Menschen in Lebenskrisen
Frede, U. (2025) · Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie · doi:10.1007/s11620-025-00872-1
O’Brien, E. (2025) · Personality and Social Psychology Review · doi:10.1177/10888683251362280
Ghosh, S., & Halder, S. (2025) · Odisha Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4103/ojp.ojp_8_25
Szoke, D. R., & Hazlett‐Stevens, H. (2025) · OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2504042
Turjo, M. D., Islam, M. J., Ria, Z. F., Sahariyar, H. M., Rahman, M. H., Uddin, M. A., Saha, A., Islam, S., & Ahmed, N. (2025) · doi:10.2196/preprints.105485
Kurze Strategien zur Stärkung der Emotionsregulation
Macklem, G. L. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-07436-2_7
Decentering Attenuates the Associations of Negative Affect and Positive Affect with PsychopathologyPreprint
DeMarree, K., & Naragon‐Gainey, K. (2017) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Kellerwessel, K., Kovács, A., & Ujhelyi, A. (2026) · Exploration of Digital Health Technologies · doi:10.37349/edht.2026.101180
Regulating emotional memories: The role of self-distancing across basic and self-conscious emotions
Dilek, S. (2026) · Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi · doi:10.57127/kpd.26024438.1745244
Tenzek, K. E., Lee, D., Lattimer, T. A., Lapan, E., & Mackenzie, L. (2026) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481187.2026.2626556
Öner, S., Çağlar, E. Ş., Dönerkayalı, C., KURTOĞLU, Z. N., & Sarıçiçek, F. Ç. (2026) · Memory · doi:10.1080/09658211.2026.2638236
How Social Media Connects and Divides Us: Psychological Insights and Paths Forward
Kubin, E., & McKeown, S. (2026) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.70067
The Solomon Paradox: Cognitive Solutions from the Perspective of Proverbs 18:14
Pattinaja, A. A., & Sualang, F. Y. (2026) · Pastoral Psychology · doi:10.1007/s11089-026-01321-y
"It Felt Like My Inner Voice": Benefits of Self-Voice Feedback in AI Reflection Support Systems
Lee, Y., Ha, J., Han, S., Kim, J., & Shin, J.-E. (2026) · CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) · doi:10.1145/3772363.3798471
Lasalvia, A., Bodini, L., D'Agostini, R., & Coppola, M. M. (2026) · RIVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENIATRIA · doi:10.3280/rsf2026-001003
Breaking Cognitive Fixation in Multi-Turn Dialogue with Self-Distancing and Incubation
Gwon, H.-M., Huang, J., & Lee, Y. (2026) · IEEE International Conference on Acoustics Speech and Signal Processing · doi:10.1109/icassp55912.2026.11464620
Soutter, A. K., Friesen, M. D., Sotardi, V. A., & Dutton, H. D. (2026) · International Journal of Adolescence and Youth · doi:10.1080/02673843.2026.2662384
Looking Back in Kindness: A Self‐Compassion Exercise for Self‐Relevant Unresolved Events
Robinson, S. L., & Boucher, C. M. (2026) · Counselling and Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1002/capr.70135
Amerongen-Meeuse, J. C. V. N., Stam, C., Romkes-Bart, A.-M., Braam, A. W., Schaap‐Jonker, H., & van den Brink, B. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16050685
Nair, S. G. S., & Chandrasekaran, B. (2026) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2026.1817984
Depression and accuracy of judgment: A meta-analysis
Yeung, J. C., Lam, H., & Chan, D. K.-S. (2026) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2026.102752
Containing What We Feel: A Tangible Service System for Emotional Regulation
Qian, Y. Z. (2026) · Designing Interactive Systems Conference · doi:10.1145/3802974.3809423
Hwang, S., Hwang, S., Lee, S., Kim, D.-J., & Lee, K. (2026) · Designing Interactive Systems Conference · doi:10.1145/3800645.3812859 · Cited by 3
Language-Dependent Expression of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Japanese-English Bilinguals
Williams, A. I., Rochanavibhata, S., & Marian, V. (2026) · Clinical Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/21677026251385547
The Fishbowl and the Messy Middle
Turesky, E. F., & Nemeroff, C. J. (2026) · Palgrave studies in equity, diversity, inclusion, and indigenization in business · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-13524-7_10
4 Positive Indifferenz: zwischen innerer Ruhe und strategischer Distanz
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.43
5 Das Regulierungsdreieck: Dynamiken und Balancen
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.59
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.front
3 Ekpathie: die vergessene Kunst der bewussten Abgrenzung
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.27
6 Anwendungsfelder in Organisationen
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.103
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.159
“I Loved this earthquake” - Rupture Transitions After Earthquake: Life Course Approach
Bener, Z. (2026) · Human Arenas · doi:10.1007/s42087-026-00671-6
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.toc
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.171
2 Die Psychologie der Empathie
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.17
1 Einleitung: emotionale Souveränität als Future Skill
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.9
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.7
Die Kunst der psychologischen Selbstführung: Empathie, Ekpathie und positive Indifferenz
Hoffmann, O. (2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112
7 Übungen, Reflexionsimpulse und Entwicklungsprogramme
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.117
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.167
8 Ausblick: emotionale Meta-Kompetenz als strategischer Erfolgsfaktor
(2026) · Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht eBooks · doi:10.13109/9783666463112.145
Džida, M., Brajša‐Žganec, A., & Keresteš, G. (2026) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1002/jad.70246
Zhou, Y., Honary, M., & Fayoumi, A. (2026) · Information Systems Frontiers · doi:10.1007/s10796-026-10802-7
Okoli, E. (2026) · Communication Teacher · doi:10.1080/17404622.2026.2715052
Kim, R. S. (2026) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107689
The Spatial Representation of Self-Referential Negative Events
Conson, M., Cecere, R., Puini, C. M. C., Panico, F., Zappullo, I., Sagliano, L., & Trojano, L. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16091514
Sardlishvili, K., & Martskvishvili, K. (2026) · Imagination Cognition and Personality · doi:10.1177/02762366261480011
Conversational AI and the Temporal Ecology of Self-Reflection
Kvietkute, D. (2026) · Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s12124-026-10041-0
Lim, W. P. H., Savage, H. S., Longley, B. F., Critchley, H., Dalgleish, T., Nord, C. L., & Garfinkel, S. N. (2026) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2025.0138 · Cited by 1
Pedroso, L. C. S. (2026) · Revista Práxis em Saúde. · doi:10.56579/pv90xn02
Metadata
- 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
- 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
- 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
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review