Cognitive Processes in Response to Goal Failure

Analysis Paper on Cognitive Processes in Response to Goal Failure

Emily Thrasher

Peru State College

The starting point for any research is to have a thesis or hypothesis. This study had a detailed and comprehensive hypothesis that explained what the research results might show. Although there are multiple variables included in the hypothesis, the researchers use multiple techniques to validate the study and account for the control needed for the experiment.

For research to be a true experiment the researchers need to have a high degree of control over the experiment and variables that could be involved in the study. The researcher used a group of people with relatively similar emotional state baselines in order to control for extraneous influences to their affective emotional states regarding the introduction of rumination of failures. “In the current study, we define rumination as repetitive, intrusive thoughts with a negative focus” (Jones, N. P., Papadakis, A. A., Orr, C. A., & Strauman, T. J., 2013) which helps others to understand what the researchers are attempting to measure to prove or disprove their hypothesis. Additionally, the researchers used methods of pre and post testing in the form of writing tests to measure the differences in affective emotional state through rumination. This technique helps create a baseline to compare the post writing to and this is another way of keeping control over the experiment.

The most challenging aspect of this study was the amount of variables included and studied. The researchers were inclusive in what would cause negative affective emotional states and they theorized that rumination would increase the negative affective emotional state of a person who have experienced promotion (advancement and growth) and prevention (safety and security) failures. Another factor included in this study is the effects of meditation on self-regulation that would prevent rumination.

Although this study is so complex, it is beneficial because it is inclusive of the many aspects that could cause rumination as well as what could help prevent rumination and improve affective emotional states following a promotion or prevention failure. The interesting finding is that meditation would help people self-regulate their emotions and come to a realization that other factors besides their own effort that caused their failures or possibly coming to a realization of other possible ways of accomplishing their goals even with the initial failure.

This study exposed me to other ideas that directly relate to the career path that I am on by introducing aspects of cognitive processes that also affect people’s attitudes and mood states. I have been previously interested in how someone’s thoughts and processes affect them. This specific study furthered my interest in cognitive processes and how they affect people’s attitudes and mood states.

Not only did this study influence my desire to learn more about cognitive processes and how they relate to peoples mood states and attitudes, but it also directly assists me in my own struggles with anxiety. The findings regarding meditation are especially significant for my own development. Understanding that dwelling on some aspect that is negative or rumination will only increase my negative mood state is substantially important. The finding of this study support my idea that the way someone thinks affects their mood state, attitudes, and eventually their behaviors as well.