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Self-Regulation Through Rumination: Consequences and Mechanisms

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Handbook of Biobehavioral Approaches to Self-Regulation

Abstract

Rumination is an important form of self-regulation where individuals try to understand and control their negative affect through persistently thinking about its causes and consequences. Despite the intention to understand and prevent negative affect, research shows that rumination paradoxically increases negative affect and is strongly associated with the development and recurrence of depression. This chapter highlights rumination as a problematic self-regulation strategy. We examine several definitions of rumination where similarities and differences of the notion of rumination between different theories are clarified. The main neuro-physiological correlates of rumination are described as well as its key affective and cognitive consequences. Then we describe some of the emerging research on the question why some individuals are more prone to rumination than others. In the last part of the chapter, we provide several interesting future directions for research to enhance understanding of rumination, including the dynamic systems approach and research that is informed by neuroimaging studies of the “default mode network” during the resting state. Moreover, we discuss methodologies by which rumination could be manipulated that could be helpful when trying to control and modify this problematic self-regulation strategy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This construct can be operationalized in different ways, such as by means of the state space grids (Hollenstein 2007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    Ernst H. W. Koster PhD, Lin Fang MSc & Igor Marchetti MSc

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  1. Ernst H. W. Koster PhD
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  2. Lin Fang MSc
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  3. Igor Marchetti MSc
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Correspondence to Ernst H. W. Koster PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geneva Motivation Lab, FPSE Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland

    Guido H.E. Gendolla

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Mattie Tops

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Sander L. Koole

Conclusion

Conclusion

Rumination is a problematic self-regulation strategy that is associated with negative consequences on mood and cognition. We have discussed some of the key mechanisms explaining why individuals are susceptible to rumination. Major new developments in the study of rumination have been introduced which are likely to deepen our understanding of the dynamics of rumination and might also indicate new ways to reduce rumination.

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Koster, E., Fang, L., Marchetti, I. (2015). Self-Regulation Through Rumination: Consequences and Mechanisms. In: Gendolla, G., Tops, M., Koole, S. (eds) Handbook of Biobehavioral Approaches to Self-Regulation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1236-0_24

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