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Investigating the role of future thinking in social problem solving
Saima Noreen1, Katherine E Whyte1, Barbara Dritschel1
1University of St Andrews, UK.
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|September 25, 2014
Summary
Thinking about unresolved social problems may hinder effective solutions for individuals with high rumination. This cognitive process, especially when focusing on negative outcomes, can impair problem-solving abilities in those prone to repetitive negative thoughts.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Rumination and depressed mood are known to impair social problem-solving abilities.
- Anticipating future consequences is a preliminary stage in social problem-solving.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how contemplating the consequences of resolved or unresolved social problems affects problem-solving effectiveness.
- To examine this influence in relation to varying levels of rumination and dysphoric mood.
Main Methods:
- 86 participants completed measures of depression and rumination.
- Participants generated consequences for social problems, considering both resolved and unresolved scenarios.
- Problem-solving and consequence recall were assessed after a delay.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of rumination and depressed mood correlated with less effective social problem solutions.
- Individuals with higher rumination generated less effective solutions for problems with unresolved consequences compared to resolved ones.
- High-rumination individuals recalled more unresolved consequences, regardless of mood.
Conclusions:
- Contemplating unresolved social problem consequences may impede effective solution generation in highly ruminative individuals.
- The study highlights a potential mechanism through which rumination negatively impacts social problem-solving.
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