Self-regulatory perseveration and the depressive self-focusing style: A self-awareness theory of reactive depression.

Abstract

In this article, we apply theory and research on self-focused attention and self-regulatory processes to the problem of depression and use this framework to integrate the roles played by a variety of psychological processes emphasized by other theories of the development and maintenance of depression. We propose that depression occurs after the loss of an important source of self-worth when an individual becomes stuck in a self-regulatory cycle in which no responses to reduce the discrepancy between actual and desired states are available. Consequently, the individual falls into a pattern of virtually constant self-focus, resulting in intensified negative affect, self-derogation, further negative outcomes, and a depressive self-focusing style in which he or she self-focuses a great deal after negative outcomes but very little after positive outcomes. Eventually, these factors lead to a negative self-image, which may take on value by providing an explanation for the individual's plight and by helping the individual avoid further disappointments. The depressive self-focusing style then maintains and exacerbates the depressive disorder. We review findings from laboratory studies of mild to moderately depressed people, correlational studies of more severely depressed people, and clinical observations with respect to consistency with the theory.

Nosce te ipsum – Socrates revisited? Controlling momentary ruminative self-referent thoughts by neuromodulation of emotional working memory

“…Because in this study trait rumination was associated with self-referent ruminative thinking, we might infer that the content of the self-referent thoughts is negative, focused on problems and unattainable goals (Martin & Tesser, 1996;Pyszczynski & Greenberg, 1987). However, we did not asses the content of these self-referent thoughts.…”

The cognitive and hedonic costs of dwelling on achievement-related negative experiences: Implications for enduring happiness and unhappiness.

“…Future studies could investigate the potential adverse consequences of chronic dwelling in nonacademic settings, as well as explore whether the processes and consequences of dwelling in our unhappy participants are mirrored in clinically depressed individuals (cf. Ingram, 1990;Pyszczynski & Greenberg, 1987).…”

“…Greenberg & Pyszczynski, 1986;Robinson & Alloy, 2003). Depressed and neurotic individuals, as well as those displaying generalized, social, and test anxiety, score higher on measures of self-consciousness and self-focused attention (see Ingram, 1990;Musson & Alloy, 1988;Pyszczynski & Greenberg, 1987, for reviews), suggesting that high levels of thinking about the self are symptomatic of psychological disorder, not psychological health (for work on adaptive forms of self-focusing, see Segerstrom, Stanton, Alden, & Shortridge, 2003;Trapnell & Campbell, 1999).…”

Am I Blue? Depressed Mood and the Consequences of Self-Focus for the Interpretation and Recall of Ambiguous Words

“…We hypothe sized that, compared to participants who focused on other matters in the thought-induction task, those who focused on the self would express personal interpretations of the homographs more frequently, particularly if they were dysphoric. The self-focused task should activate self-focused habits, presumably more prevalent in the thinking of depressed or dysphoric people (see Mor & Win quist, 2002;Pyszczynski & Greenberg, 1987;Roberts, Gilboa, & Gotlib, 1998).…”