How rumination could hold you back
Translated title
how ruminarion could hold you back
Author
Sayar, Sümeyye
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-05-30
Abstract
This thesis examines how rumination can trap people in depressive states and how the phenomenon is conceptualized and treated in two therapeutic traditions: metacognitive theory/therapy and psychodynamic theory/practice. Drawing on literature and two illustrative cases—a metacognitive case with “Leif” and a psychodynamic case with “Mr. A”—it compares the traditions’ concepts, etiological assumptions, and interventions. In the metacognitive view, rumination is a maintaining, maladaptive self-regulation strategy driven by metacognitive beliefs and framed by the S-REF model; treatment targets modifying these beliefs and shifting attentional control. In the psychodynamic view, the term rumination is used less explicitly but is understood as a maladaptive defense that diverts attention from painful affects and relational themes; treatment involves exploring emotions, defenses, and past experiences within the therapeutic relationship. The thesis discusses overlaps (e.g., rumination as repetitive negative thinking linked to depression) and divergences (controlling versus experiencing, the risk that self-analysis can fuel rumination) and concludes with a synthesis situating both perspectives within therapeutic work and the therapeutic alliance. The project is a theoretical comparative analysis with case illustrations; it does not present new empirical findings but offers an integrative overview of concepts, clinical implications, and a possible holistic approach.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan rumination kan fastholde mennesker i depressive tilstande, og hvordan fænomenet forstås og behandles i to terapeutiske traditioner: metakognitiv teori/terapi og psykodynamisk teori/praksis. Med udgangspunkt i litteratur og to illustrative kasus – et metakognitivt forløb med “Leif” og et psykodynamisk forløb med “Mr. A” – sammenlignes traditionernes begreber, antagelser om årsager (etiologi) og interventioner. I den metakognitive tilgang er rumination en vedligeholdende, problematisk selvreguleringsstrategi, styret af metakognitive overbevisninger og forstået via S-REF-modellen; behandlingen retter sig mod at ændre disse overbevisninger og regulere opmærksomhed. I den psykodynamiske tilgang omtales rumination sjældnere som begreb, men ses som et maladaptivt forsvar, der afleder opmærksomheden fra smertefulde følelser og relationelle temaer; behandlingen indebærer udforskning af følelser, forsvar og tidligere erfaringer i den terapeutiske relation. Specialet drøfter ligheder (fx rumination som repetitiv negativ tænkning forbundet med depression) og forskelle (kontrol versus oplevelse, risikoen for at selv-analyse kan nære rumination) og afslutter med en syntese, hvor begge perspektiver forstås i konteksten af det konkrete terapeutiske arbejde og den terapeutiske alliance. Arbejdet er en teoretisk-komparativ analyse med kasusillustrationer; der fremlægges ikke nye empiriske fund, men et overblik over begreber, kliniske implikationer og en mulig helhedsorienteret tilgang.
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