Extending the Goal Progress Theory of Rumination

This chapter assesses the literature on rumination. It specifically attempts to integrate the additional considerations on rumination into the basic theoretical framework. It begins with a review of the goal-progress theory of rumination. Then, it uses a parallel distributed processing model to address the ways in which individuals attempt to balance the simultaneous pursuit of multiple goals. After that, it describes research showing that a major change (e.g. divorce, marriage) in an individual's life can lead the individual to reevaluate his or her goals. Finally, it integrates these ideas into a theoretical elaboration of the earlier theory of rumination. There was reason to believe the model was incomplete in several ways, although there is good evidence for the basic goal-progress model of rumination.