When the bogus pipeline interferes with self-deceptive strategies: Effects on state anxiety in repressors

Abstract

Measures of state anxiety and thought listing were taken from individuals varying in their levels of trait anxiety and defensiveness under bogus pipeline (Experiment 1) and in a mixed design (Experiment 2) where the bogus pipeline was used as a between-subjects factor (bogus pipeline, no bogus pipeline). Participants were required to solve emotionally valenced easy and difficult anagram tasks. In both experiments, repressors reported high levels of state anxiety and negative thoughts, whereas under standard conditions they reported low levels of state anxiety and negative thoughts. High reported anxiety affected cognitive performance under bogus pipeline conditions (Experiment 2). Repressors became slower in solving negative anagrams. It is suggested that repressor's discrepant self-reports under bogus pipeline and standard conditions may reflect aspects of other-deception as well as self-deception. Alternatively, under conditions, such as the influence of the bogus pipeline, when repressors are encouraged to focus on their internal states, they are led to become more aware of their affective states and hence report high anxiety. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.