1. Tristen Hastings & Wendy Wolfe Method For further information, contact the first author at tg2101@students.armstrong.edu The Effects of Reflective Processing versus Rumination on Emotional Responses to Sad Memories: Influence of Pre-existing Depressive Symptoms and Ruminative Tendencies Participants were instructed to retrieve a memory of an interpersonal experience that elicited feelings of intense sadness and/or regret from either an immersed or distanced perspective. Participants in the immersed condition were prompted to visualize the memory as if it was reoccurring and to focus on the reasons behind the emotions they experienced; whereas, participants in the distanced condition were prompted to visualize the memory as if they were watching it occur from a bystander’s perspective and to focus on the reasons behind the emotions of the distant them. Participants were then asked to write a brief description of the memory and complete measures for implicit and explicit sadness, as well as depression and rumination. Poster presented at the Armstrong Atlantic State University Student Research and Scholarship Symposium, Savannah, GA (4-23-08). Poster presented at the Armstrong Atlantic State University Student Research and Scholarship Symposium, Savannah, GA (4-23-08). Discussion If our hypotheses are supported, and the Kross et al. findings are replicated with emotions more commonly experienced by depressed individuals, this study will provide support for use of this technique therapeutically in the treatment of depression. To assess the extent to which implicit and explicit sadness scores differed depending on the type of perspective adopted, we will conduct two independent samples t tests: one to compare the word completion task scores (implicit measure) in the immersed condition to those in the distanced condition, and another to compare scores on the PANAS (explicit measure) in the immersed condition to those in the distanced condition. To explore the possibility that there are differences in an individual’s emotion regulation ability, as well as one’s ability to maintain a distanced perspective, depending on whether an individual possesses pre- existing depressive symptoms and ruminative tendencies, we will also perform a series of regression analyses. Participants Armstrong Atlantic State University undergraduate students enrolled in introductory psychology courses have been recruited for the current study. Participants were randomly assigned into either the “distanced-why” or “immersed-why” conditions. Introduction Tendencies toward ruminative thought processes are oftentimes found to occur in conjunction with recurrent depressive symptoms. Due to dysphoric mood, these thought processes are characterized by a negative bias that intensifies depressive symptoms. This self-defeating cycle is common in depression and suggests a need for therapeutic techniques designed to provide alternative coping responses for depression, other than rumination. Consequently, there is need for a treatment technique that affords the patient the opportunity for constructive, reflective processing while minimizing problematic rumination. In 2005, a therapeutic technique based on the benefits of reflective processing was introduced with regard to aggression by Kross, Ayduk, and Mischel. They postulated that when attempting to work through negative emotions, highly reactive, emotional individuals tend to review autobiographical memories from an “immersed” perspective; whereas, calm, analytical individuals tend to review autobiographical memories from a “distanced” perspective. They formulated a technique designed to teach individuals to adopt a distanced perspective as opposed to an immersed perspective when reflecting upon anger- eliciting memories. Results indicated that participants in the distanced condition exhibited significantly less anger than participants in the immersed condition. Results We are currently still in the process of collecting data for the present study, and will continue to do so through May, 2008. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of this technique on emotions commonly associated with depression as well as the influence pre-existing depressive symptoms and/or ruminative tendencies have upon one’s ability to maintain the distanced perspective.