Transformative Processing of Negative Events Through Expressive Writing

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dc.contributor.advisorCompton, Rebecca J. (Rebecca Jean)
dc.contributor.advisorLilgendahl, Jennifer
dc.contributor.authorPlowden, Marissa K.
dc.date.accessioned2012-08-02T15:27:47Z
dc.date.available2012-08-02T15:27:47Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this study was to utilized Pennebaker and Beall's (1986) previously developed expressive writing paradigm and Pals'(2006b) concept of positive selftransformation to try to induce heightened psychological well-being through writing about negative events. Specifically, we developed three separate writing prompts that targeted the two separate components of processing (exploratory processing and coherent positive resolution) as well as a hybrid prompt that utilized elements of both in an effort to induce transformational processing, with the idea that this combination prompt would induce "optimal", or eudaimonic well-being. Overall, our results did not support our hypotheses; however, our combination prompt did produce narratives that scored significantly higher in growth than either the "explore" or the "resolve" prompt. Additionally, narratives in the Explore and Combination conditions showed a higher amount of insight cognition words than the Resolve condition. While these findings are not conclusive with regard to the influence of different writing styles on psychological well-being, they are conclusive in showing that growth is a function of both emotional exploration and positive closure and that this type of writing prompt has the potential to induce a significant positive change in an individual's self-identity.
dc.description.sponsorshipHaverford College. Department of Psychology
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10066/8989
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rights.accessHaverford users only
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/
dc.subject.lcshNarration (Rhetoric) -- Psychological aspects
dc.subject.lcshIdentity (Psychology)
dc.subject.lcshWriting -- Psychological aspects
dc.subject.lcshLife change events -- Psychological aspects
dc.titleTransformative Processing of Negative Events Through Expressive Writing
dc.typeThesis
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