An experimental study of the effect of rumination processing modes on approach behavior in a task involving previous failure

• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-019-00225-w
• Publication Date: 2019-03-14T00:46:21Z
• Authors: Kohei Kambara; Yugo Kira; Akiko Ogata
• Keywords: Affect

Previous studies have found that rumination involves thoughts that usually occur during and influence affect after experiencing failure. However, little is known about how rumination directly affects approach behavior beyond that point. Therefore, we investigated the effects of rumination on approach behavior after failure. Forty-nine university students were allocated to one of either an abstract or concrete processing mode of rumination or a control condition. A failure experience was induced through a creative thinking task, and rumination was either manipulated or not depending on the group. The students then performed a task that was similar to the failure-inducing creative thinking task. Our analysis revealed that only the concrete processing mode of rumination improved participants’ negative affect and that the manipulation of rumination ultimately did not influence approach behavior after experiencing failure.