Analyzing Negative Experiences Without Ruminating: The Role of Self‐Distancing in Enabling Adaptive Self‐Reflection

Abstract Both common intuition and findings from multiple areas of research suggest that when faced with distressing experiences, it is helpful to understand one’s feelings. However, a large body of research also indicates that people’s attempts to make sense of their feelings often backfire, leading them to ruminate and feel worse. In this article, we describe a program of research that focuses on disentangling these seemingly contradictory sets of findings. The research program we describe proposes that psychological distance from the self plays a key role in determining whether people’s attempts to understand their feelings lead to adaptive or maladaptive self‐reflection. It suggests that people’s attempts to understand their feelings often fail because they analyze their feelings from a self‐immersed perspective rather than a self‐distanced perspective. Empirical evidence from multiple levels of analysis is presented to support this prediction. The basic science and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.