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Constructive and unconstructive repetitive thought.

Edward R Watkins1

  • 1Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Washington Singer Laboratories, UK. e.r.watkins@exeter.ac.uk

Psychological Bulletin
|February 27, 2008
PubMed
Summary
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Repetitive thought (RT) can lead to negative outcomes like depression and anxiety, or positive ones such as trauma recovery and health promotion. Understanding RT

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Mental Health

Background:

  • Repetitive thought (RT) is a cognitive process with diverse psychological impacts.
  • Research indicates RT can yield both detrimental and beneficial effects on well-being.
  • Understanding the factors influencing RT's consequences is crucial for mental health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize existing research on the constructive and unconstructive consequences of repetitive thought.
  • To identify key principles that explain the differential outcomes of RT.
  • To propose a theoretical framework for understanding RT.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies examining repetitive thought.
  • Analysis of research findings on the outcomes of RT.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Synthesis of theoretical models related to cognitive processes.

    • Main Results:

    • Unconstructive consequences of RT include depression, anxiety, and physical health problems.
    • Constructive consequences encompass recovery from trauma, adaptive planning, depression recovery, and health behavior adoption.
    • Key principles influencing RT outcomes are thought content valence, context, and construal level.

    Conclusions:

    • Repetitive thought can be a double-edged sword, impacting mental and physical health positively or negatively.
    • The valence of thought content, situational context, and processing level (abstract vs. concrete) are critical moderators of RT's effects.
    • An elaborated control theory model offers a robust framework for explaining the varied consequences of repetitive thought.