Henrietta Roberts1, Edward R Watkins, Andy J Wills. 1. Mood Disorders Centre, Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK. H.Roberts@exeter.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Control theory predicts that the detection of goal discrepancies initiates ruminative self-focus (Martin & Tesser, 1996). Despite the breadth of applications and interest in control theory, there is a lack of experimental evidence evaluating this prediction. The present study provided the first experimental test of this prediction. METHODS: We examined uninstructed state rumination in response to the cueing of resolved and unresolved goals in a non-clinical population using a novel measure of online rumination. RESULTS: Consistent with control theory, cueing an unresolved goal resulted in significantly greater recurrent intrusive ruminative thoughts than cueing a resolved goal. Individual differences in trait rumination moderated the impact of the goal cueing task on the extent of state rumination: individuals who had a stronger tendency to habitually ruminate were more susceptible to the effects of cueing goal discrepancies. LIMITATIONS: The findings await replication in a clinically depressed sample where there is greater variability and higher levels of trait rumination. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that control theories of goal pursuit provide a valuable framework for understanding the circumstances that trigger state rumination. Additionally, our measure of uninstructed online state rumination was found to be a valid and sensitive index of the extent and temporal course of state rumination, indicating its value for further investigating the proximal causes of state rumination.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Control theory predicts that the detection of goal discrepancies initiates ruminative self-focus (Martin & Tesser, 1996). Despite the breadth of applications and interest in control theory, there is a lack of experimental evidence evaluating this prediction. The present study provided the first experimental test of this prediction. METHODS: We examined uninstructed state rumination in response to the cueing of resolved and unresolved goals in a non-clinical population using a novel measure of online rumination. RESULTS: Consistent with control theory, cueing an unresolved goal resulted in significantly greater recurrent intrusive ruminative thoughts than cueing a resolved goal. Individual differences in trait rumination moderated the impact of the goal cueing task on the extent of state rumination: individuals who had a stronger tendency to habitually ruminate were more susceptible to the effects of cueing goal discrepancies. LIMITATIONS: The findings await replication in a clinically depressed sample where there is greater variability and higher levels of trait rumination. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that control theories of goal pursuit provide a valuable framework for understanding the circumstances that trigger state rumination. Additionally, our measure of uninstructed online state rumination was found to be a valid and sensitive index of the extent and temporal course of state rumination, indicating its value for further investigating the proximal causes of state rumination.
Authors: Jonathan P Stange; Katie L Bessette; Lisanne M Jenkins; Amy T Peters; Claudia Feldhaus; Natania A Crane; Olusola Ajilore; Rachel H Jacobs; Edward R Watkins; Scott A Langenecker Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2017-03-27 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: O Merve Mollaahmetoglu; Edward Palmer; Emily Maschauer; Melissa C Nolan; Tobias Stevens; Molly Carlyle; Lorna Hardy; Edward R Watkins; Celia J A Morgan Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2021-02-26 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Henrietta Roberts; Rachel H Jacobs; Katie L Bessette; Sheila E Crowell; Mindy Westlund-Schreiner; Leah Thomas; Rebecca E Easter; Stephanie L Pocius; Alina Dillahunt; Summer Frandsen; Briana Schubert; Brian Farstead; Patricia Kerig; Robert C Welsh; David Jago; Scott A Langenecker; Edward R Watkins Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2021-04-23 Impact factor: 3.630