It is all in their mind: A review on information processing bias in lonely individuals

Clinical Psychology Review
Annette W M SpithovenLuc Goossens

Abstract

Loneliness is a distressing emotional state that motivates individuals to renew and maintain social contact. It has been suggested that lonely individuals suffer from a cognitive bias towards social threatening stimuli. However, current models of loneliness remain vague on how this cognitive bias is expressed in lonely individuals. The current review provides an up-to-date overview of studies examining loneliness in relation to various aspects of cognitive functioning. These studies are interpreted in light of the Social Information Processing (SIP) model. A wide range of studies indicate that lonely individuals have a negative cognitive bias in all stages of SIP. More specifically, lonely individuals have an increased attention for social threatening stimuli, hold negative and hostile intent attributions, expect rejection, evaluate themselves and others negatively, endorse less promotion- and more prevention-oriented goals, and have a low self-efficacy. This negative cognitive bias seems specific to the social context. Avenues for future research and implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Citations

Jun 1, 2018·American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP·Sara S Johnson
Jul 5, 2018·American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP·Julianne Holt-Lunstad
Mar 9, 2018·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology·Munirah Bangee, Pamela Qualter
Jul 5, 2018·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology·Rebecca NowlandPamela Qualter
Mar 8, 2019·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·A W M SpithovenJ T Cacioppo
Jul 25, 2019·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Rebecca A NowlandPamela Qualter
May 23, 2020·Psychiatry·Maryann WeiLeonie Miller
Oct 28, 2019·Cognition & Emotion·Michele MorningstarPamela Qualter
Nov 9, 2019·The Journal of Genetic Psychology·Sandra BosackiVictoria Talwar
Dec 22, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Łukasz OkruszekKarolina Żurek
Oct 10, 2020·Journal of Affective Disorders·Marianne Skogbrott BirkelandSiri Thoresen
Dec 8, 2020·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Andrew P Owens
Mar 10, 2021·Cerebral Cortex·Gillian GrennanJyoti Mishra
Mar 23, 2021·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Aleksandra PiejkaŁukasz Okruszek
Dec 16, 2021·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Nira SaportaSimone G Shamay-Tsoory

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.