Self-Focused Attention and the Self-Regulation of Attention: Implications for Personality and Pathology

Abstract

The ability to shift attention away from the self may increase self–conscious individuals' vulnerability to negative affective states. Participants' ability to shift their attention away from themselves was assessed by how quickly they could shift attention to an external stimulus when thinking about themselves relative to their reaction time when thinking about someone else. This measure of attentional flexibility was not related to the degree of self–focus. Consistent with previous research, individuals high in private self–focused attention were more dysphoric. Being low in attentional flexibility magnified the effects of private self–focused attention. Participants high in private self–awareness who could not stop thinking about themselves experienced more dysphoria and generalized anxiety than those lower in self–consciousness or those who could better regulate attention. A similar effect was found for public self–awareness and social anxiety.