Field versus observer perspective in mental imagery: an investigation of the effects on mood and behaviour, and of the efficacy of a clinical application in the prevention of depressive relapse.

mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">It isnot just a posit</>ive event in itself, but also how it is processed that
determines the outcome, for instance on positive affect. This is especially of
interest in the context of depression. Depression is characterised by increased
negative affect, but also by reduced positiveaffect</>. Our aim
was to investigate mechanisms that underlie reduced positive affect. </>We investigated several processing styles
that are relevant for depressionin this context. We examined their effect on
positive affect and their interrelations and associations with depressive
symptomatology.

</>First, </>w</>e
experimentally investigated the effect of adopting a field versus observer perspective</> on positive affect</> when imagining positive events. P</>ositive mental imagery </>refers to mentally representing a positive event in the absence of
the </>corresponding sensory input.Importantly, an event involving </>an individual him- or herself can be
imagined from a field (first person) perspective or an observer (third person)
perspective. </>We </>attempted to replicate findings of a previous study in
which </>imagining positive
events from a field perspective increased positive affect, whereasobserver
imagery decreased positive affect. Contrary to the originalstudy, we did not
find a differential impact of imagery perspective on positive affect (Chapter
1). In a second, conceptual, replication study again, we found no differential
impact of field versus observerperspective on positive affect. Positive affect
increased after imagining positive scenarios regardless of the adopted
perspective (Chapter 2).

Second, we investigated </>a typical downgrading response
style to positive affect, known as </>dampening</></> (e.g., I did not deserve it). We examined
dampening as it relates to (a history of) depression
and depressive symptoms</> in a community sample, cross-sectionally and
prospectively (Chapter 3). We found that h</>igher levels of dampening
responses to positive affect were related to higher concurrent levels of
depressive symptoms. However, we found no strong support for a prospective
relation. Results further indicated that not only currently but also formerly
depressed individuals engage in dysfunctional (dampening) strategies in
response to positive affect. </>

Third,</>we
investigated the relation between the
use of an observer perspective</> and depressive
symptoms</> (Chapter 4). </>We found that </>dysphoric
students retrieved more positive than negative memories from an observer
perspective, whereas this was not the case for non-dysphorics. </>In addition, we examined a potential
mechanism behind the observer perspective. It has been suggested, for example,
that making unfavourable evaluations is easier when adopting an observer
perspective relative to a field perspective. However, this relation has never
been directly examined with positive events. </>W</>e investigated in
correlational and experimental designswhether dampening</> is </>associated with an
increased use </>of an observer perspective for positive memories</>
(Chapter 4 and 5). </>W</>e found no experimental
evidence that dampening causes an increaseduse of observer imagery (Chapter
5). Correlational evidence was mixed (Chapter 4, 5, 6).

</>Fourth, w</>einvestigated
the affective impact of adopting a concrete/imagery-based
versus abstract/verbal processing</> style</>
for positive memories (Chapter 6) and hypothetical positive scenarios (Chapter
1). Abstract/verbal processing refers to verbal thoughts that are focused on
understanding the meaning, causes and consequences of an event.</>EN-US" lang="EN-GB"> </>In Chapter 6, we more
closely examined thistype of thinking about positive experiences. We
investigated whetherits affective impact is moderated by trait dampening</>. In addition, based on previous
research,we examined whether making
(unfavourable) comparisons</> is one of the critical negative aspect of
abstract thinking. We found that concrete/imagery-based processing was, in
terms of positive affect, superior to abstract/verbal processing for
hypothetical scenarios and a self-selected positive memory (Chapter 1 and 6),
and superior to comparative thinking for a specific achievement (Chapter 6). Overall,
a comparative/verbal thinking style did not change positive affect, but it had
a more negative impact on change in positive affect with increasing levels of
depressive symptoms. We found no evidence that trait dampening reduces the
affective impact of positive memory recall. </>

The six chapters are preceded by a general introduction and followed by a
general discussion. In the general
introduction</>, we provide a background, definitions of the main variables of
interest and the related research aims. In the general discussion</>,we present an overview and discussion of all
chapters, including limitations, future directions and clinical implications.</></>



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