The necessity of negative affect? The role of rumination in creative writing

• Main Author: Morales, Marie Rose Henson
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Rumination (Psychology); Creative writing; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5102
• Institution: De La Salle University

The relationship of creativity and depression was found to be correlational rather than causal. The present study examines rumination as a possible underlying cognitive mechanism that links the two, in that rumination, a predisposition to depression, is utilized by writers to achieve their goal. The study also examines the assertion by creative writers that their ability to create stems from negative affect hence, the study examines the role of affect throughout the creative process. In a quasi-experiment involving a sample of 78 undergraduate creative writers, the study found that rumination does lead to improved creative outcomes. However, this effect could not be attributed to self-focused attention. Furthermore, affect does not mediate the rumination-creative outcomes relationship. Successful task completion also does not lead to increased positive affect. However, individuals who experienced greater negative affect prior to revision also experienced greater positive affect after revision, regardless of actual improvement in output. Findings are discussed in light of principles from the control theory of self-regulation, specifically goal abstractedness. Implications of the results for mental health are also discussed.