In Psychology, many theories have been put forward to explain the origin and maintenance of depression: learning, cognitive, social theories…

Today we will know the theory of response styles of Susan Nolen-Hoeksema , a cognitive-social model that refers to the ruminative style of the subject to explain the chronification of depressive disorder.

There are people who think a lot about things, even going into a loop and doing absolutely nothing to remedy their problems. We’re talking about a ruminative style of thinking. But how does this style of thinking relate to depression? We’ll look at that below.

Response Style Theory

The theory of response styles is a theory encompassed within cognitive-social models, which was put forward by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema (1991, 2000), an American psychologist and professor at Yale University.

When Nolen-Hoeksema started the studies on ruminative style, she realized that ruminative thinking and depression showed no significant differences between girls and boys during childhood.

However, from adolescence onwards, the presence of both elements was double in the case of women, remaining constant for the rest of their life cycle (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991).

The author alluded to factors that determine the course of depression. According to the theory of response styles, the way in which the subject responds to the first symptoms of depression influences its duration and severity.

In other words, the theory does not explain the origin of depression, but its maintenance and exacerbation.

The ruminative style in depression

The ruminative style or rumination are repetitive ideas about one’s sadness, its causes and possible consequences. It is a predictor of some psychopathologies and is linked to depression, as Nolen-Hoeksema states.

In addition, it can be considered a type of coping strategy for situations of stress and discomfort, although it is considered dysfunctional and maladaptive, and can have consequences as serious as suicide, in extreme cases .

According to the theory of response styles, once you have depression, focusing attention on the symptoms and their implications, without doing anything to alleviate them (that is, manifesting a ruminative response style) will maintain or exacerbate the depressive symptoms.

This style is the opposite of an active style based on distraction or problem solving, which in this case would be functional and adaptive.

Numerous experimental and field studies support S. Nolen-Hoeksema’s theory, and claim that a ruminative response style in a subject increases the likelihood that a depressive mood will intensify , even becoming a depressive disorder.

Mechanisms of the ruminative style

The theory of response styles raises a series of mechanisms that explain the negative effects of the ruminative style , and they are the following:

1. Vicious circles

Vicious circles occur between depressed mood and the negative cognitions associated with depression.

These two elements influence each other and feed back, causing the depression to become chronic and accentuated.

2. Decreased generation of effective solutions

The generation of solutions aimed at solving the basic problems is practically non-existent.

Thus, the subject does nothing or practically nothing to solve his situation , simply “spins” what is happening to him, without reaching any conclusion or putting into practice any solution.

3. Interference with instrumental behaviors

The ruminative style interferes negatively in the application of instrumental behaviors that would provide reinforcement and a sense of control to the subject.

In other words, rumination will make it difficult to generate and put into practice such behaviors; in this way, the subject will enter a state of helplessness and hopelessness that will lead him to “do nothing”.

4. Weakening of social support

Social support is reduced or disappears, due to the patient’s behavior, which provokes criticism and rejection among family and friends .

Origin of the ruminative style

The ruminative style proposed by the theory of response styles originates from learning in childhood through modelling and certain socialization practices that do not provide a repertoire of more adaptive behaviours.

Results in experimental studies

Ruminative responses (ruminative style) have been investigated in experimental studies, and the following effects of having a ruminative thinking style have been observed:

  • Increase in negative and overall attributions.
  • Increased accessibility of negative memories.
  • Pessimism and biased negative interpretations .
  • Generation of poorer interpersonal solutions

On the other hand, rumination has also been seen to be a predictor of anxious as well as depressive symptoms in individuals with or without pre-existing depression.

Bibliographic references:

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1991). Response to depression and their effects on the duration of depressive episodes. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 569- 582.
  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2000). The role of rumination in depressive disorders and mixed anxiety/depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109, 504-511.
  • Belloch, A.; Sandín, B. and Ramos, F. (2010). Manual of Psychopathology. Volume I and II. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
  • García, R., Valencia, A., Hernández-Martínez, A., Rocha, T. (2017). Ruminative thinking and depression among university students: rethinking the impact of gender. Revista Interamericana de Psicologia/Interamerican Journal of Psychology (IJP), 51(3), 406-416.