Post-event processing and the retrieval of autobiographical memories in socially anxious individuals

TLDR: Unexpectedly, after negative post-event processing socially anxious individuals recalled memories that although anxious and shameful, were rated as significantly more calming than after other types of post- event processing.

About: This article is published in Journal of Anxiety Disorders.The article was published on 2004-01-01 and is currently open access. It has received 71 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Autobiographical memory.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What is the effect of social anxiety on the memory ratings of people?

although trait levels of depression were not measured, pre-experiment mood ratings were equivalent in socially anxious and non-anxious individuals and the change inmood across post-event processing did not predict differences in memory ratings in any analysis; therefore, the observed differences in memories recalled are likely to be due to social anxiety and not negative or depressed mood. 

Q2. What is the purpose of this study?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether post-event processing affects the retrieval of autobiographical memories rated as negative, anxious and shameful in a sample of socially anxious individuals and controls. 

Q3. What is the effect of negative post-event processing on the memory ratings?

In fact, negative post-event processing led to the recall of relatively calmer memories than positive post-event processing or a distracter task. 

Q4. What is the function of post-event processing?

Despite efforts to resist thinking about past events, socially anxious people have reported a difficulty in attempts to forget or suppress information (Fehm & Margraf, 2002) and so rather than viewing post-event processing as a way of working through and resolving uncertainties about how one appears to others during a social interaction, Rachman et al. suggest that post-event processing can worsen these uncertainties, perpetuating social anxiety. 

Q5. What was the main predictor of the anxiety of memories?

This indicated that compared to the distraction task, memories were significantly more calming after negative PEP in socially anxious individuals compared to non-anxious individuals. 

Q6. What is the likely explanation for the difference in the negative and shame ratings of memories?

It seems that socially anxious individuals will generally recall more negative and shameful memories than non-anxious individuals, but that after negative post-event processing only, they generate relatively calming memories. 

Q7. What did Rachman et al. (2000) report that scores on this questionnaire significantly?

Rachman et al., (2000) report that scores on this questionnaire significantly correlate with social anxiety, although their study did not include data from a sub-sample of social phobics. 

Q8. What is the effect of social anxiety on the self-reported memories?

one puzzling aspect of this study is that, in terms of positivity and shamefulness of memories, the type of PEP engaged in had no effect: regardless of whether post-event processing was positive or negative, socially anxious individuals drew upon both negative and shameful self-related autobiographical memories. 

Q9. What predictors of shame were included in the multilevel model?

As with the positivity and anxiety of memories, social anxiety significantly predicted the shame associated with the memories: socially anxious individuals produced memories rated as significantly more shameful3.