تعمیم پذیری توانایی سرکوب افکار به محرک های رمان

The present study examined in a nonclinical sample whether ability to suppress autobiographical negative memories generalized to successful suppression of novel scenarios of negative valence (armed hold-up) or neutral valence (white bear). Fifty-nine participants were assessed for thought suppression ability, and 35 were identified as ‘good’ or ‘poor’ suppressors. Potential correlates of thought suppression ability were measured, including estimates of cognitive ability, previous traumatic experiences, and mood states. Good suppressors were more successful in not thinking of target scenarios when instructed to suppress than poor suppressors, and this was independent of valence of the to-be-suppressed scenario. Contrary to predictions, the two groups did not differ on measures hypothesized to influence suppression ability, but within group correlations indicated tentative support for mood states and prior trauma being related to autobiographical intrusions. The implications for understanding intrusive cognition in clinical disorders are discussed.

3.1. Preliminary analyses Three ANOVAs were conducted for the total sample to rule out potential order effects for each scenario, and took into account the six possible orders of presentation and the two phases of the experiment (suppression versus think anything instruction). These ANOVAs revealed no order effects. In terms of the nature of the autobiographical event suppressed by good and poor suppressors, 11% indicated the event was too personal to disclose, 23% reported a Criterion A stressor (e.g., serious car accident, witnessing death), and 66% reported negative life experiences (e.g., death of grandparent, relationship break-up). The two suppressor groups did not differ in terms of autobiographical event, χ2(N = 2) = 2.32, p = .31.