1. From a distance: implications of spontaneous self-distancing for adaptive self-reflection
- Author
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Ayduk, Ozlem and Kross, Ethan
- Subjects
Avoidance (Psychology) -- Observations ,Avoidance (Psychology) -- Social aspects ,Interpersonal relations -- Psychological aspects ,Psychology and mental health ,Sociology and social work - Abstract
Although recent experimental work indicates that self-distancing facilitates adaptive self-reflection, it remains unclear (a) whether spontaneous self-distancing leads to similar adaptive outcomes, (b) how spontaneous self-distancing relates to avoidance, and (c) how this strategy impacts interpersonal behavior. Three studies examined these issues demonstrating that the more participants spontaneously selfdistanced while reflecting on negative memories, the less emotional (Studies 1-3) and cardiovascular (Study 2) reactivity they displayed in the short term. Spontaneous self-distancing was also associated with lower emotional reactivity and intrusive ideation over time (Study 1). The negative association between spontaneous self-distancing and emotional reactivity was mediated by how participants construed their experience (i.e., less recounting relative to reconstruing) rather than avoidance (Studies I-2). In addition, spontaneous self-distancing was associated with more problem-solving behavior and less reciprocation of negativity during conflicts among couples in ongoing relationships (Study 3). Although spontaneous self-distancing was empirically related to trait rumination, it explained unique variance in predicting key outcomes. Keywords: psychological distance, self-distancing, rumination, avoidance, conflict behavior DOI: 10.1037/a0019205
- Published
- 2010