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Effects of Rumination Processing Modes on the Tendency to Avoid Failure

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Abstract

Previous studies have shown that rumination has two processing modes: abstract processing mode and concrete processing mode. Abstract processing mode is associated with risk factors for depression. However, the effects of abstract processing mode on the tendency to avoid difficult situations, which is characteristic of major depression, are not clear. Our aim was to elucidate these effects, using laboratory-based methods. Thirty-four university students were recruited and divided into two group conditions abstract processing mode or concrete processing mode rumination. First, participants attempted a mathematics failure task. After the task, participants were interviewed in order to induce each processing mode. After the interview, they attempted the same task and were told that they could stop at any time. Results showed that the abstract processing mode rather than concrete processing mode group showed increased commitment for the second task. This indicated that rumination processing modes may increase the tendency to avoid difficult situations.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by grant from the Hiroshima University Education and Research Support Foundation. Many thanks to Dr. Makoto Iwanaga and Yoshihiro Kanai for kindly contacting and providing the study material.

This study already submitted by master’s dissertation in Graduate school of Education, Hiroshima University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University, 1-1-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8524, Japan

    Kohei Kambara, Akiko Ogata & Yugo Kira

Authors
  1. Kohei Kambara
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  2. Akiko Ogata
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  3. Yugo Kira
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Correspondence to Kohei Kambara.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Hiroshima University Education and Research Support Foundation.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of Interest

Author Kohei Kambara declares that he has no conflict of interest. Author Akiko Ogata declares that she has no conflict of interest, Author Yugo Kira declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Appendix

Appendix

Interview questions in abstract conditions

1

Why do you think that you solved the problem with such a solution?

2

What do you think is the reason why you got the results of this task?

3

Do you think that there are characteristic differences how you performed compared with others?

4

Why did you move your eyes during a problem like that?

5

Do you think that this problem has a distinct kind of meaning for you?

6

Why do you think that any thoughts floated during the task?

7

Why do you think that you moved your body during a problem like this?

Interview questions in concrete conditions

1

How much time did you take for each task problem?.

2

What you wrote in a problem booklet or draft that you provided?

3

Please explain to me the task precisely, and what kind of problem you solved, so that even a person who is not familiar with it can understand.

4

How did you move your eyes during the task as time went on?

5

What kind of method did you use to solve the task?

6

What kind of thoughts did you have during the task?

7

How did you move your body during the problem?

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Kambara, K., Ogata, A. & Kira, Y. Effects of Rumination Processing Modes on the Tendency to Avoid Failure. Curr Psychol 38, 1204–1214 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9655-z

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