Attention and Emotion (Classic Edition)
Open accessAbstract
This is a Classic Edition of Adrian Wells and Gerald Matthews’ award-winning textbook on attention and emotion, which now includes new section introductions. The book won the British Psychological Society book award in 1998, and is now widely seen as a classic in the field of emotional disorders. Attention and Emotion: A Clinical Perspective critically reviews the literature on attention and emotion, and offers an integrative cognitive attentional model of the development and maintenance of emotional disorders. The authors also discuss the implications for clinical practice of attentional theories of emotional dysfunction. In the new section introductions, the authors reflect on the influence of their ground-breaking model and the subsequent developments in the field, 20 years since the book was first published. The book will continue to be essential reading for students, researchers and professionals with an interest in disorders of attention and emotion.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
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?
Research has shown that people who have higher levels of mindfulness, particularly within the facets of non-judgment, non-reactivity, and act aware, tend to have lower levels of negative beliefs about worry.
“In harmony with our results, research has shown that people who have higher levels of mindfulness, particularly within the facets of non-judgment, non-reactivity, and act aware, tend to have lower levels of negative beliefs about worry [76].”
From Association between time perspective and metacognition among Lebanese adults: the mediating role of mindfulness (2023) · cites this paper as [76]
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The Cambridge Handbook of Personality Psychology
(2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Time Perspectives Predict Mood States and Satisfaction with Life over and above Personality
Stolarski, M., & Matthews, G. (2016) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-016-9515-2 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Self-citationTemperament and brain networks of attention
Posner, M. I., & Rothbart, M. K. (2018) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2017.0254 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Coverage of Emotion Recognition for Common Wearable Biosensors
Hui, T., & Sherratt, R. S. (2018) · Biosensors · doi:10.3390/bios8020030 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
“The promotion of emotional responses not only can balance our physical health through the nervous and endocrine systems to reach the goal of homoeostasis [6], recent research on neuroimaging also proves that our everyday behaviour is a close integration of both cognition and emotion [7,8].”
BackgroundLiu, Q., Yang, X., Zhu, X.-W., & Zhang, D.-J. (2019) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-019-00464-x · Cited by 73 · see citing works
A Metacognitive model of procrastination
Fernie, B. A., Bharucha, Z., Nikčević, A. V., Marino, C., & Spada, M. M. (2016) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.12.042 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Feng, C., Becker, B., Huang, W., Wu, X., Eickhoff, S. B., & Chen, T. (2018) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.02.023 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
“To account for the between-trial effects, the strategic-monitoring hypothesis suggests that the interference in the EST is based on a mechanism implicated in strategic reductions in the cognitive control of the ongoing task to monitor salient (emotional) information in the environment (Wells and Matthews, 2014;Wyble e…”
InfluentialExploring social influences on the joint Simon task: empathy and friendship
Ford, R. M., & Aberdein, B. (2015) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00962 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
The Role of Visual Attention in Sentiment Prediction
Fan, S., Jiang, M. X., Shen, Z., et al. (2017) · ACM International Conference on Multimedia (ACM MM) · doi:10.1145/3123266.3123445 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“Our findings are reminiscent of the studies from psychology, which report that negative affect is associated with enhanced memory of the focal region whereas positive affect is more related to the memory of contextual details [19, 24, 39, 48].”
ResultBen‐Eliyahu, A., & Zeidner, M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.041 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Does reconsolidation occur in natural settings? Memory reconsolidation and anxiety disorders
Fernández, R. S., Pedreira, M. E., & Boccia, M. M. (2017) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.08.004 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Bailey, R., & Adrian Wells, A. (2015) · Clinical Psychologist · doi:10.1111/cp.12078 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Self-citationSmith, E. L., Garety, P. A., Harding, H., & Hardy, A. (2019) · Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice · doi:10.1111/papt.12265 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Grace Under Pressure in Educational Contexts: Emotional Intelligence, Stress, and Coping
Zeidner, M., & Matthews, G. (2018) · Plenum series on human exceptionality · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90633-1_4 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citationDeYoung, C. G., & Blain, S. D. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.026 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Metacognitions in Triathletes: Associations With Attention, State Anxiety, and Relative Performance
Love, S., Kannis‐Dymand, L., & Lovell, G. P. (2018) · Journal of Applied Sport Psychology · doi:10.1080/10413200.2018.1440660 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Multiple paths to rumination within a network analytical framework
Tamm, G., Koster, E. H. W., & Hoorelbeke, K. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-61469-6 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Reisenzein, R., Hildebrandt, A., & Weber, H. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.009 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Repetitive negative thinking about suicide: Associations with lifetime suicide attempts
Teismann, T., Forkmann, T., Michalak, J., & Brailovskaia, J. (2021) · Clinical Psychology in Europe · doi:10.32872/cpe.5579 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Zahedian, E., Bahreini, M., Ghasemi, N., & Mirzaei, K. (2021) · BMC Women's Health · doi:10.1186/s12905-021-01258-9 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Tae, J., Jeong, D., & Chon, J. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph191610231 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“In addition, it is explained by two types of attention: directed and involuntary [39].”
BackgroundGerges, S., Azzi, V., Bianchi, D., Laghi, F., Pompili, S., Malaeb, D. N., Obeïd, S., Soufia, M., & Hallit, S. R. (2023) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05183-z · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“In fact, since dysfunctional metacognitive appraisals serve as a mechanism for maladaptive ruminative thought processes and worry, it is posited that they also interfere in regulating emotions, thus frequently giving rise to overall deficits in emotion regulation and emotional difficulties, and resulting in heightened…”
BackgroundStimulus, response and feedback processing in burnout – An EEG study
Golonka, K., Mojsa‐Kaja, J., Marek, T., & Gawłowska, M. (2018) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.10.009 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Robinson, M. D., & Sedikides, C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.031 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
The Five-Factor Model of Personality: Consensus and Controversy
McCrae, R. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.013 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Development of Personality across the Life Span
Atherton, O. E., Donnellan, M. B., & Robins, R. W. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.017 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Russell, J. K., Strodl, E. S., & Kavanagh, D. J. (2020) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2020.1861280 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Evolutionary Personality Psychology
Lewis, D. M. G., Al-Shawaf, L., & Buss, D. M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.022 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Approach–Avoidance Theories of Personality
Corr, P. J., & Krupıć, D. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.025 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Caprara, G. V., & Vecchione, M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.038 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Conceptual and Historical Perspectives
Cloninger, S. C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.004 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Advancing the Theory and Practice of Metacognitive Therapy: A Commentary on the Special Issue
Matthews, G. (2015) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-014-9663-3 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“They also attest to the value of using a theory-driven approach to therapy, given that MCT is based on the account of cognition and emotion provided by the S-REF model, which is supported by a diversity of sources of evidence (Wells and Matthews 1994, 2014).”
MethodResultSelf-citationSports-specific metacognitions: associations with flow state in triathletes
Love, S., Kannis‐Dymand, L., & Lovell, G. P. (2021) · Australian Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00049530.2021.1882267 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“…knowledge, referring to memory and beliefs about the nature and effects of cognition; and b) metacognitive regulation, which refers to the cognitive behaviours and processes used to regulate cognition, in accordance with an individual’s beliefs (Schraw & Moshman, 1995; Wells & Matthews, 2014).”
MethodExperimental manipulation of metacognitive beliefs and paranoia in a non-clinical population
Kaltsi, M., Bucci, S., & Morrison, A. P. (2017) · Psychosis · doi:10.1080/17522439.2017.1413128 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“The Self-Referent Executive Function (S-REF) model provides a useful framework for understanding vulnerability to paranoia (Wells & Matthews, 1996, 2014).”
MethodPersonality, Preferences and Socioeconomic Behavior
Ferguson, E., Zhao, K., & Smillie, L. D. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.044 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
States and Situations, Traits and Environments
Asendorpf, J. B., & Rauthmann, J. F. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.007 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Chahine, A., El Zouki, C.-J., Mhanna, M., Hallit, S., & Obeid, S. (2023) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05356-w · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Obsesif Kompulsif Bozuklukta Bilişsel Yanlılık Değişimi
DERİN, S., & Yorulmaz, O. (2020) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi:10.18863/pgy.620707 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Temperament and Brain Networks of Attention
Rothbart, M. K., Posner, M. I., & Sheese, B. E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.016 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Biesanz, J. C., & Wallace, J. D. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.006 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Personality in Clinical Psychology
Widiger, T. A., & McCabe, G. A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.042 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Narrative Identity in the Social World
McLean, K. C., Syed, M., Haraldsson, K. G., & Lowe, L. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.035 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Salgado, J. F., Anderson, N. R., & Moscoso, S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.040 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Models of Personality Structure
Raad, B. D., & Barelds, D. P. H. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.012 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Cognitive Processes and Models
Matthews, G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.028 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citationBasic Needs, Goals and Motivation
Szalma, J. L. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.030 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Ranallo, P. A., & Tenenbaum, J. D. (2021) · Health informatics · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-70558-9_6 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Personality in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Dragūns, J. G., & Tanaka‐Matsumi, J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.037 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
The effect of mindfulness and metacognition on anxiety symptoms: a case-control study
Aydın, O., Obuća, F., Çakıroğlu, E., Ünal‐Aydın, P., & Esen-Danacı, A. (2022) · Middle East Current Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s43045-022-00260-7 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Models of Physical Health and Personality
Heilmayr, D., & Friedman, H. S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.019 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Seeing the Unseen: Evidence for Indirect Recognition of Brief, Concealed EmotionPreprint
Svetieva, E., & Frank, M. G. (2016) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2882197 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Sexual dysfunctions and metacognitive beliefs: a PRISMA-compliant systematic review
Olivari, C., Cugno, M. D., & Caselli, G. (2023) · Sexual & Relationship Therapy · doi:10.1080/14681994.2023.2253742 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Zihinsel Yankıların İki Yüzü: Tefekkür ve Ruminasyon Arasındaki Çizgi
Aka, M. (2024) · İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi · doi:10.15869/itobiad.1558869 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The combined role of metacognition and mindfulness in social anxiety symptoms: A path model
Obuća, F., Aydın, O., Çakıroğlu, S., & Ünal‐Aydın, P. (2023) · Psihologija · doi:10.2298/psi220729013o · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Jackson, C., & Jones, C. M. (2025) · European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education · doi:10.3390/ejihpe15060109 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Metacognition as a Mental Health Support Strategy for Students With Anxiety
Weight, K., & Bond, J. (2021) · Journal of education · doi:10.1177/0022057421996242 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Metacognitive therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy and an approach based on a theory by Wells and Matthews (2014) for the treatment of anxiety.”
BackgroundMethodAl-Ghorabaiee, F. M., Karamloo, S., & Noferesti, A. (2017) · Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.29252/nirp.ijpcp.23.2.164 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Thus, people experience emotional discomfort when their metacognitive beliefs produce a special pattern of response to inward experiences that perseveres and intensifies thoughts, emotions, and negative excitements [3, 4, 5].”
BackgroundMikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.020 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Personality Traits and Mental Disorders
Hakulinen, C. A., Jokela, M. M., Mika Kivimaki, B., & Elovainio, M. J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.018 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Anxiety, Depression and Cognitive Dysfunction
Eysenck, M. W., & Holmes, A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.033 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Lynam, D. R., Vize, C. E., & Miller, J. D. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.043 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Tomita, N., & Kumano, H. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-07104-z · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Emotion ensemble judgement: Cognitive training for a positive perspective.
Ngai, H. H. T., & Jin, J. (2025) · British Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjop.12784 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Laicher, H., Int-Veen, I., Woloszyn, L., Wiegand, A., Kroczek, A., Sippel, D., Lawyer, G., Torka, F., Nieratschker, V., Rubel, J. A., et al. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-16344-3 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Jayawickreme, E., & Zachry, C. E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.032 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-Regulation and Control in Personality Functioning
Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.029 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Yıldırım, Z. E., Sütcü, S. T., & Altıntoprak, A. E. (2025) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08425-3 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“‘Self-focus,’ which refers to intensifying bodily sensations and emotions (Gibbons & Gaeddert, 1984), can hinder one’s emotional coping skills (Wells & Matthews, 1994) and restrict attentional ability (Wells & Matthews, 2015).”
Trafford, J. (2016) · Studies in applied philosophy, epistemology and rational ethics · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47205-8_4 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Personality in Nonhuman Animals
Bell, A. M., & Bensky, M. K. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.023 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Weiß, A., & Deary, I. J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.005 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Personality and the Unconscious
Perugini, M., Richetin, J., & Costantini, G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.008 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The Effects of Stress and Executive Functions on Decision Making in an Executive Parallel Task
McGuigan, B. C. (2016) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Corr, P. J., & Matthews, G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.001 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationAddendum: Statistical Analyses and Computer Programming in Personality
Corr, P. J., & Matthews, G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.045 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationRule-breaking and entrepreneurship
Zhang, S. (2023) · Queensland University of Technology · doi:10.5204/thesis.eprints.242759 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Yaffe, B. (2018) · CUNY Academic Works (City University of New York)
yavari, F., Jeshvaghani, A. A., & gholparvar, M. (2019) · Journal of Health Promotion Managment
Personality Assessment Methods
Boyle, G. J., & Helmes, E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.011
Schermer, J. A., & Saklofske, D. H. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.014
Social Relations and Social Support
Austin, E. Q., Knack, J. M., Jensen‐Campbell, L. A., & Rex‐Lear, M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.036
Corr, P. J., & Matthews, G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.002
Self-citationSallis, H., Smith, G. D., & Munafo, M. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.024 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Corr, P. J., & Matthews, G. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.046
Self-citationEsteller-Collado, G., Carpallo-González, M., & Muñoz‐Navarro, R. (2023) · Ansiedad y Estrés · doi:10.5093/anyes2023a18 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
TANILAR ÖTESİ MODELİN AKIL YÜRÜTME HATALARI VURGUSUYLA PSİKOLOJİK PROBLEMLERE UYGULANMASI
Cicerali, L. K., & Süloğlu, S. B. (2024) · Akademik Hassasiyetler · doi:10.58884/akademik-hassasiyetler.1409958
Acar, D., & Berk, Ö. S. (2024) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi:10.18863/pgy.1460122
Yıldırım, Z. E., Aktaş, E., Hasanoğlu, C., & Sütcü, S. T. (2024) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi:10.18863/pgy.1540884
Experiential Mindfulness Meditation and the Experimental Method
Leyland, A., & Berry, L. M. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-91451-5_15
Sekmek, Ö. S. Ö., Almış, B. H., & Ugurlu, M. M. (2025) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.70193
Zahedian, E., Bahreini, M., Ghasemi, N., & Mirzaei, K. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14247631
Zahedian, E., Bahreini, M., Ghasemi, N., & Mirzaei, K. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14247634
Zahedian, E., Bahreini, M., Ghasemi, N., & Mirzaei, K. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14247628
When thoughts become verdicts: The WATCH model for pastoral care
Diaz, E. C. (2026) · Pastoral Psychology · doi:10.1007/s11089-026-01366-z
- Authors
- Wells, A., & Matthews, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Venue
- Psychology Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Psychology Press
- Published
- 2014-11-24
- OpenAlex
- W2896308684
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 3.01
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Psychology Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Disorders
- Keywords
- attention, emotions, emotional disorders, attentional bias, emotional dysfunction, clinical practice, attention disorders
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
