Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-45l2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T14:42:00.368Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Correlates of Overgeneral Memories in Normal Subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Harald Merckelbach ,
Peter Muris  and
Robert Horselenberg
Harald Merckelbach
Affiliation:
University of Limburg, The Netherlands
Peter Muris
Affiliation:
University of Limburg, The Netherlands
Robert Horselenberg
Affiliation:
University of Limburg, The Netherlands
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study examined the correlates of overgeneral memories (i.e., non-specific memories) in normal subjects. Subjects were instructed to generate five personal memories in response to positive cue-words and five memories in response to negative cue-words. As predicted, no evidence was found for a positive association between overgeneral memories and level of depression. Neither was there an association between low memory specificity on the one hand and neuroticism and trait anxiety on the other hand. A significant though small correlation was found between hemisphere thinking style and specificity of personal memories. Surprisingly, the direction of this correlation was such that the more subjects relied on a left hemisphere mode of thinking (i.e., analytic and verbal processing), the more overgeneral their memories were. Taken together, the results indicate that in normal samples, depression symptoms, neuroticism or trait anxiety do not represent important correlates of overgeneral memories consistent with their status as trait markers uninfluenced by state factors.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , April 1996 , pp. 109 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J. E. and Erbaugh, J. K. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Pychiatry 4, 561–571CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brittlebank, A. D., Scott, J., Williams, J. M. G. and Ferrier, I. N. (1993). Autobiographical memory in depression: state or trait marker? British Journal of Psychiatry 162, 118–121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, J., Williams, J. M. G., O'Loughlin, S. and Howells, K. (1992). Autobiographical memory and problem solving strategies of parasuicide patients. Psychological Medicine 22, 399–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eysenck, M. W. (1992). Anxiety: the cognitive perspective. Hove: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Eysenck, H. J. and Eysenck, S. B. G. (1964). The Eysenck Personality Inventory. London: University of London Press.Google Scholar
de Jong, P. J., Merckelbach, H. and Muris, P. (1990). Conjugate lateral eye movements, cerebral dominance, and anxiety. In Takens, R. J. (Ed). European perspective in psychology. Vol. 2. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
de Jong, P. J., Merckelbach, H. and Nijman, H. (1995). Hemisphere preference, anxiety, and covariation bias. Personality and Individual Differences 18, 363–371.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iaccino, J. F. (1993). Left brain-right brain differences: inquiries, evidence, and new approaches. Hove: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Kuyken, W. and Brewin, C. R. (1995). Autobiographical memory function in depression and reports of early abuse. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 104, 585–591.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McNally, R. J., Lasko, N. B., Macklin, M. L. and Pitman, R. K. (1995). Autobiographical memory disturbance in combat-related post traumatic stress disorder. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
McNally, R. J., Litz, B. T., Prassas, A., Shin, L. M. and Weathers, F. M. (1994). Emotional priming of autobiographical memory in post traumatic stress disorder. Cognition and Emotion 8, 351–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McNally, R. J., Vardi, D. J. and Orr, S. P. (1995). Autobiographical memory disturbance in incest-related and rape-related post traumatic stress disorder. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Merckelbach, H., Muris, P. and de Jong, P. J. (1990). Hemisphere reference, phobia, and depression. International Journal of Neuroscience 55, 119–123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Merckelbach, H., Muris, P., Pool, K. and de Jong, P. J. (submitted). Reliability and validity of a paper-and-pencil test measuring hemisphere preference.Google Scholar
Moore, R. G., Watts, F. N. and Williams, J. M. G. (1988). The specificity of personal memories in depression. British Journal of Clinical Psychology 27, 275–276.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silberman, E. K. and Weingartner, H. (1986). Hemispheric lateralization of functions related to emotion. Brain and Cognition 5, 322–353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsusch, R. L. and Lushene, R. E. (1970). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.Google Scholar
Williams, J. M. G. (1992). Autobiographical memory and emotional disorders. In Christianson, S. A. (Ed). Handbook of emotion and memory: research and theory. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Williams, J. M. G. and Broadbent, K. (1986). Autobiographical memory in suicide attempters. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 95, 144–149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williams, J. M. G. and Dritschel, B. H. (1988). Emotional disturbance and the specificity of autobiographical memory. Cognition and Emotion 2, 221–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, J. M. G. and Scott, J. (1988). Autobiographical memory in depression. Psychological Medicine 18, 689–695.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zenhausern, R. (1978). Imagery, cerebral dominance, and style of thinking: a unified field model. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 12, 381–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.