Repressors and memory: Effects of self-deception, impression management, and mood

Abstract

Previous research on individual differences in repression has used a typological method of classification; people are classified as repressors if they self-report low anxiety and high social desirability ( Weinberger, Schwartz, & Davidson, 1979). This typology, however, does not differentiate between the two factors comprising social desirability (impression management and self-deception). In this research, participants completed measures of anxiety and social desirability, attempted to recall childhood emotional experiences, and indicated their mood at the time of recall. A regression procedure was used to uncover the best predictors of recalled negative emotional experiences. Anxiety and self-deception (but not impression management) significantly predicted memory performance. This supports the view of repressors as deceiving themselves rather than engaging in impression management. Mood at the time of recall was related to memory, but only partially explained the impoverished memory of repressors.