Articles tagged with: cognitive psychology
Explicit and Implicit Anxiety: Differences Between Patients with Hypochondriasis, Patients with Anxiety Disorders, and Healthy Controls
Abstract Empirical research has found comparable levels of anxiety in patients with hypochondriasis and those with various anxiety
disorders. However, the majority of these investigations were based exclusively on questionnaires (Q-data). In the present
study, we included the implicit association task-anxiety (IAT-anxiety; Egloff and Schmukle in J Personal Soc Psychol, 83:1441–1455
2002) as an implicit test (T-data) of anxiety. Results showed that patients with hypochondriasis (n = 36) and those with anxiety disorders [...]
Abstract Empirical research has found comparable levels of anxiety in patients with hypochondriasis and those with various anxiety
disorders. However, the majority of these investigations were based exclusively on questionnaires (Q-data). In the present
study, we included the implicit association task-anxiety (IAT-anxiety; Egloff and Schmukle in J Personal Soc Psychol, 83:1441–1455
2002) as an implicit test (T-data) of anxiety. Results showed that patients with hypochondriasis (n = 36) and those with anxiety disorders [...]
Minority Stress and Attributions for Discriminatory Events Predict Social Anxiety in Gay Men
Abstract This study revealed that attributional style can identify gay men at risk for adverse mental health correlates of discrimination,
as well as those resilient in the face of frequent discriminatory events. Men identifying as gay (N = 307) completed online self-reports of social anxiety, perceived frequency of discriminatory events, attributions for discriminatory
events, and key minority stress constructs: internalized homonegativity and gay identity development. A new measure was constructed
to assess different t [...]
Abstract This study revealed that attributional style can identify gay men at risk for adverse mental health correlates of discrimination,
as well as those resilient in the face of frequent discriminatory events. Men identifying as gay (N = 307) completed online self-reports of social anxiety, perceived frequency of discriminatory events, attributions for discriminatory
events, and key minority stress constructs: internalized homonegativity and gay identity development. A new measure was constructed
to assess different t [...]
Cognitive Reactivity in Everyday Life as a Prospective Predictor of Depressive Symptoms
Abstract We used PDA devices and an experience sampling technique to assess participants’ negative mood and thoughts as they engaged
in their normal daily routines over the course of a week. We then calculated each person’s own unique relationship between
mood and thoughts, and used this index of cognitive reactivity to predict depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up. Participants
who demonstrated a stronger link between their momentary negative mood and negative cognitions reported more depressive symptoms
at follow-up than [...]
Abstract We used PDA devices and an experience sampling technique to assess participants’ negative mood and thoughts as they engaged
in their normal daily routines over the course of a week. We then calculated each person’s own unique relationship between
mood and thoughts, and used this index of cognitive reactivity to predict depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up. Participants
who demonstrated a stronger link between their momentary negative mood and negative cognitions reported more depressive symptoms
at follow-up than [...]
An Examination of Integrated Cognitive-Interpersonal Vulnerability to Depression: The Role of Rumination, Perceived Social Support, and Interpersonal Stress Generation
Abstract This research examined an integration of cognitive and interpersonal theories of depression by investigating the prospective
contribution of depressive rumination to perceptions of social support, the generation of interpersonal stress, and depressive
symptoms. It was hypothesized that depressive ruminators would generate stress in their relationships, and that social support
discontent would account for this association. Further, depressive rumination and dependent interpersonal stress were examined
as joint and unique [...]
Abstract This research examined an integration of cognitive and interpersonal theories of depression by investigating the prospective
contribution of depressive rumination to perceptions of social support, the generation of interpersonal stress, and depressive
symptoms. It was hypothesized that depressive ruminators would generate stress in their relationships, and that social support
discontent would account for this association. Further, depressive rumination and dependent interpersonal stress were examined
as joint and unique [...]
The Utility of Measuring Explanatory Flexibility in PTSD Research
Abstract This study explored how explanatory style and explanatory flexibility were related to each other and to symptoms of posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty-eight college students who had endorsed DSM-IV-TR PTSD Criteria A1 and A2 on the Life Events
Checklist completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire as well as self-report measures of PTSD and depression. Explanatory
flexibility demonstrated independence from explanatory style. In addition, explanatory flexibility, but not explanatory style,
was associated with [...]
Abstract This study explored how explanatory style and explanatory flexibility were related to each other and to symptoms of posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty-eight college students who had endorsed DSM-IV-TR PTSD Criteria A1 and A2 on the Life Events
Checklist completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire as well as self-report measures of PTSD and depression. Explanatory
flexibility demonstrated independence from explanatory style. In addition, explanatory flexibility, but not explanatory style,
was associated with [...]
After Further Deliberation: Cognitive Vulnerability Predicts Changes in Event-Specific Negative Inferences for a Poor Midterm Grade
Abstract According to the hopelessness theory of depression (Psychological Review 96:358–372, 1989), individuals with a cognitive vulnerability are at risk for depression because they generate event-specific negative inferences
for stressful life events. Although prior studies have found an association between cognitive vulnerability and event-specific
negative inferences, conclusions from these studies have been limited by weak correlations and a failure to examine how event-specific
inferences change over time. The current stu [...]
Abstract According to the hopelessness theory of depression (Psychological Review 96:358–372, 1989), individuals with a cognitive vulnerability are at risk for depression because they generate event-specific negative inferences
for stressful life events. Although prior studies have found an association between cognitive vulnerability and event-specific
negative inferences, conclusions from these studies have been limited by weak correlations and a failure to examine how event-specific
inferences change over time. The current stu [...]
“The Unconscious” in Current Psychology
A series of vignette examples taken from psychological research on motivation,
emotion, decision making, and attitudes illustrates how the influence of
unconscious processes is often measured in a range of different behaviors.
However, the selected studies share an apparent lack of explicit operational
definition of what is meant by consciousness, and there seems to be substantial
disagreement about the properties of conscious versus unconscious processing:
Consciousness is sometimes equated with attention, sometimes with verbal report
a [...]
A series of vignette examples taken from psychological research on motivation,
emotion, decision making, and attitudes illustrates how the influence of
unconscious processes is often measured in a range of different behaviors.
However, the selected studies share an apparent lack of explicit operational
definition of what is meant by consciousness, and there seems to be substantial
disagreement about the properties of conscious versus unconscious processing:
Consciousness is sometimes equated with attention, sometimes with verbal report
a [...]
Shared Variance Among Self-Report and Behavioral Measures of Distress Intolerance
Abstract Distress intolerance may be an important individual difference variable in understanding maladaptive coping responses across
diagnostic categories. However, the measurement of distress intolerance remains inconsistent across studies and little evidence
for convergent validity among existing measures is available. This study evaluated the overlap among self-report and behavioral
measures of distress intolerance in four samples, including an unselected sample, a sample of patients with drug dependence,
and two samples of c [...]
Abstract Distress intolerance may be an important individual difference variable in understanding maladaptive coping responses across
diagnostic categories. However, the measurement of distress intolerance remains inconsistent across studies and little evidence
for convergent validity among existing measures is available. This study evaluated the overlap among self-report and behavioral
measures of distress intolerance in four samples, including an unselected sample, a sample of patients with drug dependence,
and two samples of c [...]
The Relationship Between Homework Compliance and Therapy Outcomes: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Abstract The current study was an updated meta-analysis of manuscripts since the year 2000 examining the effects of homework compliance
on treatment outcome. A total of 23 studies encompassing 2,183 subjects were included. Results indicated a significant relationship
between homework compliance and treatment outcome suggesting a small to medium effect (r = .26; 95% CI = .19–.33). Moderator analyses were conducted to determine the differential effect size of homework on treatment
outcome by target symptoms (e. [...]
Abstract The current study was an updated meta-analysis of manuscripts since the year 2000 examining the effects of homework compliance
on treatment outcome. A total of 23 studies encompassing 2,183 subjects were included. Results indicated a significant relationship
between homework compliance and treatment outcome suggesting a small to medium effect (r = .26; 95% CI = .19–.33). Moderator analyses were conducted to determine the differential effect size of homework on treatment
outcome by target symptoms (e. [...]
Social Rejection: How Best to Think About It?
Abstract College students who wrote about the abstract context of a recent social rejection (e.g., “How do you think you will view
this event in 1–2 years?”) subsequently reported lower levels of depression and rumination symptoms than those who wrote about
the abstract reasons or implications (e.g., “Why do you think this happened?”) or those given no writing instructions. A third
group who wrote about concrete aspects of their experience (e.g., “As you recall the event, what physical sensations do you
notice? [...]
Abstract College students who wrote about the abstract context of a recent social rejection (e.g., “How do you think you will view
this event in 1–2 years?”) subsequently reported lower levels of depression and rumination symptoms than those who wrote about
the abstract reasons or implications (e.g., “Why do you think this happened?”) or those given no writing instructions. A third
group who wrote about concrete aspects of their experience (e.g., “As you recall the event, what physical sensations do you
notice? [...] 
