Repressive coping : Distraction using pleasant thoughts and memories

摘要: To avoid exposure to unpleasant or unwanted emotional material, some people may distract themselves by summoning up pleasant thoughts such as happy memories. Manipulation of negative affect might therefore result in heightened accessibility and memories, contrary hypotheses mood-congruent recall. In Experiment 1, repressors were faster recall memories after watching an film than a neutral film. Nonrepressors showed the opposite effect (i.e., memory). 2, film, memory sad memory. 3, spontaneously generated whereas nonrepressors did not. Thus, apparently cope with affective material accessing thoughts. Results are discussed terms cognitive defenses against distress associative structure repression.