Factors influencing the retrieval and control of negative cognitions

Abstract

Factors influential in the retrieval (accessibility) and control (dismissal) of positive, negative and neutral mental events were investigated in a psychophysiological experiment. Based on their scores on a cognitive questionnaire, three groups of Ss (high-scoring intrusive thinkers, high depressive thinkers and low-scoring controls) were requested to imagine unpleasant (intrusive or depressive), pleasant and neutral thoughts or images. Heart rate, respiration rate, corrugator EMG and subjective ratings of mood as well as time taken to form and dismiss the cognitive stimuli were measured. The Intrusive group took significantly longer to dismiss their unpleasant cognitions than the Control Ss. Though group differences in retrieval time were not found, all Ss except the Intrusive group showed quicker retrieval of pleasant with neuroticism, self-reported frequency and emotional intensity of negative cognitions, degree of subjective emotional arousal generated by a mental event and self-rated difficulty removing cognitions from awareness. Retrieval latency failed to show any relationship with these variables. The results are discussed in light of the potential relevance of dismissal latency in assessments of cognitive-affective interaction.