Narrowing Perspective Due to Persistent Reflection
In a recent study published in the journal Emotion, researchers Ulrich, Rossegger, and Ofer have investigated the effects of rumination and acceptance on the scope of attention. The study involved 72 young adults who were asked to recall a distressing personal event and either ruminate or practice acceptance.
The findings of the study suggest that acceptance and rumination have distinct effects on attention, independent of mood changes. Acceptance, it appears, helps loosen the grip of narrow focus, making it easier to see the broader context. This was observed in participants as they were able to ignore distracting details when looking at the bigger picture.
On the other hand, rumination causes a narrow focus on details at the expense of the bigger picture. After rumination, participants became more easily distracted by small details when asked to focus on the larger figure. This narrowed attention linked to rumination appears in several mental health conditions, including OCD and ADHD.
The study also suggests that clinicians might emphasize acceptance-based techniques like mindfulness to help patients shift out of detail-traps. Individuals can practice noticing emotions without judgment to train their attention on the bigger picture instead of spiraling details.
The study did not expand the global focus as much as expected, but it did reduce detail-obsession, making attention more balanced. Rumination may not just coexist with detail-focused thinking, but may actually help maintain it. However, the authors caution that more research is needed to fully understand the intricate relationship between rumination, acceptance, and attention focus.
The authors of the study article, "Rumination and acceptance differentially modulate the scope of attention," are Ulrich, Rossegger, and Ofer. The findings could guide therapy for various mental health conditions, such as depression, OCD, eating disorders, and ADHD.
References: Ben Zaken Linn, M., Cohen, L., & Weinbach, N. (2025). Rumination and acceptance differentially modulate the scope of attention. Emotion, 25(7), 1668-1676. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001540
