Trait anxiety reduces affective fading for both positive and negative
autobiographical memories |
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Authors: | W Richard Walker Cecile N Yancu John J Skowronski |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Psychological Sciences, Winston-Salem State University,
USA;2.Department of Behavioral Sciences, Winston-Salem State University,
USA;3.Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University,
USA |
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Abstract: | The affect associated with negative events fades faster than the affect
associated with positive events (the Fading Affect Bias; the FAB). The research
that we report examined the relation between trait anxiety and the FAB. Study 1
assessed anxiety using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; Studies 2 and
3 used the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Studies 1 and 2 used retrospective procedures
to probe positive event memories and negative event memories while Study 3 used
a diary procedure. The results of all 3 studies showed that increased anxiety
was associated with both a lowered FAB and lower overall affect fading for both
positive events and negative events. These results suggest that for people free
of trait anxiety, the FAB reflects the operation of a healthy coping mechanism
in autobiographical memory that is disrupted by trait anxiety. |
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Keywords: | trait anxiety fading affect bias emotion autobiographical memory |
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