Abstract
Self-regulation of behavior frequently requires that people disengage from goals that are too difficult to attain. The current studies investigate whether self-focused rumination hinders the execution of this crucial self-regulatory competence. In study one, participants attempted to solve anagrams, some of which were unsolvable, and their predisposition to engage in self-focused rumination was assessed. The tendency to ruminate was associated with getting stuck in the attempt to solve unsolvable anagrams. In study two, ruminative thoughts were manipulated by asking participants to focus on their self, personality, and goals in life, a task frequently employed to induce rumination. Compared to participants undergoing a distraction induction, ruminating participants were more likely to get stuck trying to solve unsolvable anagrams. These results suggest that self-focused rumination hinders disengagement from unattainable goals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 325-332 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Motivation and Emotion |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2010 |
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Keywords
- Goal disengagement
- Goals
- Rumination
- Self-regulation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
Cite this
Letting go of unmet goals : Does self-focused rumination impair goal disengagement? / van Randenborgh, Annette; Hüffmeier, Joachim; LeMoult, Joelle; Joormann, Jutta.
In: Motivation and Emotion, Vol. 34, No. 4, 01.12.2010, p. 325-332.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Letting go of unmet goals
T2 - Does self-focused rumination impair goal disengagement?
AU - van Randenborgh, Annette
AU - Hüffmeier, Joachim
AU - LeMoult, Joelle
AU - Joormann, Jutta
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - Self-regulation of behavior frequently requires that people disengage from goals that are too difficult to attain. The current studies investigate whether self-focused rumination hinders the execution of this crucial self-regulatory competence. In study one, participants attempted to solve anagrams, some of which were unsolvable, and their predisposition to engage in self-focused rumination was assessed. The tendency to ruminate was associated with getting stuck in the attempt to solve unsolvable anagrams. In study two, ruminative thoughts were manipulated by asking participants to focus on their self, personality, and goals in life, a task frequently employed to induce rumination. Compared to participants undergoing a distraction induction, ruminating participants were more likely to get stuck trying to solve unsolvable anagrams. These results suggest that self-focused rumination hinders disengagement from unattainable goals.
AB - Self-regulation of behavior frequently requires that people disengage from goals that are too difficult to attain. The current studies investigate whether self-focused rumination hinders the execution of this crucial self-regulatory competence. In study one, participants attempted to solve anagrams, some of which were unsolvable, and their predisposition to engage in self-focused rumination was assessed. The tendency to ruminate was associated with getting stuck in the attempt to solve unsolvable anagrams. In study two, ruminative thoughts were manipulated by asking participants to focus on their self, personality, and goals in life, a task frequently employed to induce rumination. Compared to participants undergoing a distraction induction, ruminating participants were more likely to get stuck trying to solve unsolvable anagrams. These results suggest that self-focused rumination hinders disengagement from unattainable goals.
KW - Goal disengagement
KW - Goals
KW - Rumination
KW - Self-regulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649643604&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78649643604&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11031-010-9190-9
DO - 10.1007/s11031-010-9190-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78649643604
VL - 34
SP - 325
EP - 332
JO - Motivation and Emotion
JF - Motivation and Emotion
SN - 0146-7239
IS - 4
ER -