首页 理论教育思维之隅:走神研究与启示-内容调节假设

思维之隅:走神研究与启示-内容调节假设

【摘要】:内容调节假设认为,走神对心理健康特别重要,走神与心理健康之间的关系跟不同的走神内容有关。走神和心理健康之间的关系取决于个体的评估以及如何调节走神的内容,使走神产生最有成效的结果,并尽量减少对其幸福或其他结果的危害。这一假设强调走神是一种异质的、而不是同质的状态。而将走神的内容限制在未来指向和感兴趣内容上,会给个体带来更好的收益。

个体在走神时,思维内容各式各样。某些走神的内容会导致心理痛苦、不快乐,乃至抑郁或强迫症等适应不良,但还有些走神的内容却有其适应价值。研究者发现,指向未来的走神帮助个体预测未来并提前规划,从而作出积极的选择,有利于实现未来目标。[17]指向过去的走神可能是痛苦和不快乐的暗示,与消极情绪密切相关。[18]所以,个体的认知系统也会以一种适应性的方式调整走神的内容,以使效益最优。

内容调节假设认为,走神对心理健康特别重要,走神与心理健康之间的关系跟不同的走神内容有关。走神和心理健康之间的关系取决于个体的评估以及如何调节走神的内容,使走神产生最有成效的结果,并尽量减少对其幸福或其他结果的危害。这一假设强调走神是一种异质的、而不是同质的状态。所以从干预的角度来说,单纯减少走神并没有意义,相反,我们应当关注和改变那些对个体健康和幸福感有破坏作用的走神,同时又不限制有益的走神内容发挥其建设性作用。通过冥想或其他干预的方式打破负性的、聚焦于过去的、抽象的重复思考的环路,改变走神的内容和发生,是很有价值的。而将走神的内容限制在未来指向和感兴趣内容上,会给个体带来更好的收益。

【注释】

[1]J.Smallwood,“Distinguishing How from Why the Mind Wanders: A Processoccurrence Framework for Self-generated Mental Activity”,Psychological Bulletin,139(3),2013,519~535.

[2]E.Klinger,K.C.Gregoire,S.G.Barta,“ Physiological Correlates of Mental Activity: Eye Movements,Alpha,and Heart Rate During Imagining,Suppression,Concentration,Search,and Choice”,Psychophysiology,10,1973,471~47.

[3]E.Klinger,W.M.Cox,“Dimensions of Thought Flow in Everyday Life”,I-magination,Cognition and Personality,7 (2),1987,105~128.

[4]J.C.McVay,M.J.Kane,“Why DoesWorking Memory Capacity Predict Variation in Reading Comprehension?on the Influence of Mind Wandering and Executive Attention”,Journal of Experimental Psychology: General,141 (2),2012,302~320.

[5]J.C.Mcvay,M.J.Kane,“Does Mind Wandering Reflect Executive Function or Executive Failure? Comment on Smallwood and Schooler(2006) and Watkins(2008) ”,Psychological Bulletin,136 (2),2010,188.

[6]J.C.McVay,M.J.Kane,“Conducting the Train of Thought: Working Memory Capacity,Goal Neglect,and Mind Wandering in an Executive-control Task”,Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning,Memory,and Cognition,35 ( 1),2009,196;J.Smallwood,M.Obonsawin,D.Heim,“Task Unrelated Thought: The Role of Distributed Processing”,Consciousness and Cognition,12 (2),2003,169~189.

[7]J.W.Schooler,“Re-representing Consciousness: Dissociations between Experience and Meta-consciousness”,Trends in Cognitive Sciences,6 (8),2002,339~344.

[8]J.W.Schooler etal.,“Meta-awareness,Perceptual Decoupling,and theWandering Mind”,Trends in Cognitive Sciences,15 (7),2011,319~326.(www.chuimin.cn)

[9]K.C.R.Fox,K.Christoff,“Metacognitive Facilitation of Spontaneous Thought Processes: When Metacognition Helps the Wandering Mind Find Its Way”,The Cognitive Neuroscience ofMetacognition,Springer,Berlin,Heidelberg,2014,293~319.

[10]J.W.Schooler,“Re-representing Consciousness: Dissociations Between Experience and Meta-consciousness”,Trends in Cognitive Sciences,6 (8),2002,339~344.

[11]M.A.Sayette,E.D.Reichle,J.W.Schooler,“Lost in the Sauce: The Effects of Alcohol on Mind Wandering”,Psychological Science,20 (6),2009,747 ~ 752;F.Finnigan,D.Schulze,J.Smallwood,“Alcohol and theWandering Mind: A New Direction in the Study of Alcohol on Attentional Lapses”,International Journal on Disability &Human Development,6,2 (2007),189~200.

[12]J.M.Smallwood etal.,“Task Unrelated ThoughtWhilst Encoding Information”,Consciousness and Cognition,12 (3),2003,452~484.

[13]J.Smallwood,J.Andrews-Hanna,“Not all Minds that Wander are Lost: the Importance of a Balanced Perspective on the Mind-wandering State”,Frontiers in Psychology,4,2013,441; J.Smallwood,J.M.Schooler,“The Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness”,Annual Review of Psychology,66 (1),2015,487.

[14]J.Smallwood,L.Nind,R.C.O'Connor,“When is Your Head at? An Exploration of the Factors Associated with the Temporal Focus of the Wandering Mind”,Consciousness and Cognition,18 (1),2009,118~125.

[15]B.Baird et al.,“Inspired by Distraction Mind Wandering Facilitates Creative Incubation”,Psychological Science,23 (10),2012,1117~1122.

[16]J.G.Randall,M.E.Beier,A.J.Villado,“Multiple Routes to Mind Wandering:Predicting Mind Wandering With Resource Theories”,Consciousness and Cognition: An International Journal,67,2019,26~43.

[17]K.K.Szpunar,“Evidence for an Implicit Influence of Memory on Future Thinking”,Memory & Cognition,38 (5),2010,531.

[18]M.S.Franklin et al.,“The Silver Lining of A Mind in the Clouds: Interesting Musings are Associated With Positive Mood While Mind-wandering”,Frontiers in Psychology,4,2013,583; D.Stawarczyk,S.Majerus,A.D'Argembeau,“Concern-induced Negative Affect is Associated with the Occurrence and Content of Mind-wandering”,Consciousness& Cognition,22 (2),2013,442~448.