Internal State Awareness Research Articles

Working through the body in metacognitive interpersonal therapy to change relational patterns in dependent personality disorder: The case of Lia.

Persons with dependent personality disorder (DPD) have difficulties describing their inner world, and in realizing their negative ideas about the self, such as being weak, unworthy or powerless are just ideas. As a consequence, they tend to over-rely on others and may lose control over their emotions. Treating these persons can gain benefits from including body-focused techniques as they can promote a) awareness of internal states, b) better emotion regulation, c) the capacity to consider their negative ideas about themselves as not necessarily true, and d) gain power of and agency. We will describe the therapist used body-focused techniques in the context of Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy when treating Lia, a 40-year-old woman suffering from DPD who also suffered from generalized anxiety disorder and had difficulties in making autonomous choices. She had a romantic relationship with a man she described as distant and judgmental so she felt lonely and not entitled to express her discomfort or capable to break up. The therapist used body-focused techniques, together with behavioural exposure, mindfulness and guided imagery, to let Lia be more aware of her thoughts and feelings, and then to regulate affects and realize she had previously capacities. At therapy termination anxiety diminished and she could break up with the partner and start a new one where she felt free to express herself. We suggest how bodily-focused techniques can be used to enhance therapy effectiveness in DPD.

Self‐objectification and sexual dysfunction among women: Testing and extending objectification theory

AbstractObjectification theory predicts that women's self‐objectification should lead to sexual dysfunction, yet previous studies failed to provide consistent support for this prediction. The present research—which used two sufficiently powered samples and a self‐objectification measurement (SOBBS) with improved psychometric qualities and content validity than previous measurements—found support for the expected association between self‐objectification and sexual dysfunction among heterosexual women in Israel and the United States (N = 404 and 366, Mage = 30.59 and 36.93, respectively). We also examined two novel potential mediators of this association, entitlement for pleasure and sexual agency (i.e., the capability to express sexual desires and boundaries), and found that the latter mediated the link between self‐objectification and sexual dysfunction. The mediators originally proposed by objectification theory (i.e. appearance anxiety, body shame, awareness of internal body states and flow) failed to mediate this link. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.

The Association Between Self-Surveillance and Self-Rated Health in College Women: A Mechanistic Approach

Although women outlive men, women report poorer self-rated physical health over much of the lifespan. Objectification theory may offer insight into this gender difference. Objectifying culture promotes self-surveillance, which encourages prioritizing the body’s appearance over its physical functioning and well-being. As women may engage in self-surveillance more so than men, this sequence of events may help explain this gender difference in self-rated health. However, the few studies examining this idea show an inconsistent relationship between self-surveillance and self-rated health. Nonetheless, self-surveillance may promote body shame and diminished awareness of internal bodily states. As these factors are associated with poor self-rated health, self-surveillance may predict poor self-rated health via these mechanisms. In study 1 ( N = 166 undergraduate women), self-surveillance was unrelated to self-rated health. However, body shame and low interoceptive awareness mediated this relationship. In study 2 ( N = 347 undergraduate women and men), self-surveillance correlated negatively with self-rated health for female participants but not male participants. Female participants reported poorer self-rated health, and this effect was serially mediated by self-surveillance, body shame, and low body responsiveness. These studies suggest a potential avenue by which self-surveillance may explain the gender difference in self-rated health in college samples, providing an important basis for future longitudinal investigations in more diverse samples. Moreover, these results suggest that interventions targeting body shame and low internal awareness may be used to promote good self-rated health as well as to prevent disease and poor health behaviors related to self-rated health.

Validation of different forms of present-moment awareness using cognitive and behavioral outcomes.

The recently developed Multidimensional Awareness Scale (MAS) consists of three subscales assessing individual differences in present-moment awareness of internal states (meta-awareness; MAS-MA), present-moment awareness of the external world (external awareness; MAS-EA), and in the adoption of a detached, observer perspective on one's current internal states (decentered awareness; MAS-DA). The present article examines whether the constructs identified during the development of the MAS manifest during behavioral laboratory tasks. Study 1 (N = 242) examined participants' memory for incidentally encountered external stimuli (criterion for external awareness) and reports of awareness of mind wandering during a lengthy vigilance task (criterion for meta-awareness), and Study 2 (N = 230) examined tolerance of a painful stimulus and concurrent and retrospective reports of pain (criteria for decentered awareness). Results supported the constructs of meta-awareness and decentered awareness and the corresponding validity of the MAS-MA and MAS-DA but incidental memory was not related to MAS-EA. Findings generally remained after controlling for previously established measures of mindfulness or decentering. Results are discussed with respect to theory on awareness-related concepts and potential uses of the MAS subscales. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of age and gender on neural correlates of emotion imagery.

Mental imagery is part of people's own internal processing and plays an important role in everyday life, cognition and pathology. The neural network supporting mental imagery is bottom‐up modulated by the imagery content. Here, we examined the complex associations of gender and age with the neural mechanisms underlying emotion imagery. We assessed the brain circuits involved in emotion mental imagery (vs. action imagery), controlled by a letter detection task on the same stimuli, chosen to ensure attention to the stimuli and to discourage imagery, in 91 men and women aged 14–65 years using fMRI. In women, compared with men, emotion imagery significantly increased activation within the right putamen, which is involved in emotional processing. Increasing age, significantly decreased mental imagery‐related activation in the left insula and cingulate cortex, areas involved in awareness of ones' internal states, and it significantly decreased emotion verbs‐related activation in the left putamen, which is part of the limbic system. This finding suggests a top‐down mechanism by which gender and age, in interaction with bottom‐up effect of type of stimulus, or directly, can modulate the brain mechanisms underlying mental imagery.

The role of exteroceptive and interoceptive awareness in executing socially relevant bodily actions: A naturalistic investigation of greeting behaviour in the UK and Spain

Body awareness is tightly linked to motor action. Non-verbal greetings constitute a behaviour through which an awareness of both socio-cultural habits (exteroceptive awareness) and internal bodily states (interoceptive awareness) play out to influence the structure of action. To establish the effect of culture on non-verbal greeting behaviours, naturalistic observations were carried out in two countries (Britain and Spain) that are purported to exhibit differences in greeting types. Interoceptive awareness (IA) was subsequently measured in a proportion of observed participants ( N = 33) who filled in the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2). As expected, a significant difference in greeting type was observed between British ( N = 252) and Spanish ( N = 244) greeters. Scores of greeting intimacy and competency did not differ significantly between Britain and Spain. However, independent of culture, several moderate and strong relationships emerged between selective dimensions of the MAIA-2 and scores of intimacy and competency. Specifically, intimacy and competency scores were positively correlated with the ‘Awareness of Mind-Body Integration’ dimension. Greeting intimacy yielded additional positive relationships with the Not Distracting and Trusting subscales, and a negative relationship with the Not Worrying subscale. These relationships suggest that IA facilitates healthy social approach behaviour as expressed through greetings, irrespective of cultural greeting differences. We discuss IA and greeting behaviour in the context of attachment, consider the clinical implications for social anxiety and the future implications for social interactions in a post-COVID-19 era.

Naturalistic use of psychedelics is related to emotional reactivity and self-consciousness: The mediating role of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences.

Psychedelics are able to acutely alter emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. However, whether the regular naturalistic use of psychedelics can be linked to more persistent trait-level changes in these domains remains an open question. To test the hypotheses that (1) using psychedelics is related to higher positive and lower negative emotional reactivity; and (2) an adaptive pattern of self-consciousness, including diminished public self-consciousness and rumination, and increased reflection and self-awareness; and (3) these relations are mediated by the intensity of past ego-dissolution and mystical experiences. An online survey including questions about the history of psychoactive substance use; questionnaires measuring trait levels of emotional reactivity and self-consciousness; questionnaires for retrospective assessment of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences. Data collected from 2516 participants (1661 psychedelics users) were analyzed using robust linear regression and mediation analysis. A higher number of lifetime uses of psychedelics predicted greater positive and lower negative emotional reactivity; also, in the domain of self-consciousness, it predicted greater reflection and internal state awareness, and reduced rumination tendency and public self-consciousness. Finally, the intensity of past mystical and ego-dissolution experiences mediated almost all the observed relationships between the lifetime number of psychedelics uses and psychological variables. Lifetime psychedelics use predicts an adaptive pattern of trait-level emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. Ego-dissolution and mystical experiences are essential in understanding the long-lasting psychological effects of psychedelics use. Our findings might potentially explain previous observations of increased well-being in psychedelics users.

Enhance your CQ as well as IQ, EQ & SQ

We are much interested for our consciousness because our happiness and success are relying on it. But what is consciousness? Consciousness is a state of awareness. Awareness of our external situation in relation to the internal .The awareness is the light which reveals the contents of our inner and outer world and the energy find its expression through the faculties and instruments of our consciousness. Brazdau O [1] has defined consciousness as “the level of consciousness (or the level of being conscious) that is experienced in the morning, ½-1 hour after we are awake, after a refreshing sleep, without being exposed to any significant stimulus such as coffee, TV, radio, music or talking.” The Consciousness Quotient is related with six primary factors: • Physical Consciousness • Emotional Consciousness • Mental (Cognitive) Consciousness • Spiritual Consciousness • Social-Relational Consciousness • Self-consciousness. According to Brazdau O, et al. [2] some other secondary factors of the Consciousness Quotient are • Internal State Awareness • Self- Reflectiveness • Mindfulness • Autonomy • Personal Growth • Positive Relations with Others • Purpose in Life • Verbal Expression • Openness toward new experiences. In present paper researcher has focused on importance of CQ as well as IQ, EQ and SQ.

49-OR: Changes in Regional Cerebral Blood Flow during Hypoglycemia in T1DM

Regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) during hypoglycemia (HYPO) is critical for maintaining adequate glucose delivery to the brain; however, specific changes in regional CBF during HYPO are not well defined. We measured CBF in 14 T1DM (mean ± SD age 31 ± 7 yrs, DM duration 16 ± 5 yrs, A1c 7.2 ± 1.0 %) and 13 healthy controls (CON; age 35 ± 11 yrs, A1c 5.2 ± 0.5 %) using 3.0 T MRI continuous arterial spin labeling during fasting baseline (BAS), a hyperinsulinemic (2 mU/kg/min) euglycemic clamp (EUG; 90 mg/dl), followed by a hypoglycemic clamp (HYPO; 50 mg/dl). Global and regional changes in CBF were measured in 15 regions of interest (ROI). At BAS, gray matter CBF was similar in CON and T1DM (58 ± 16 vs. 61 ± 11 ml/100 gm brain/min). No significant changes in CBF were observed from BAS to EUG in any brain region in either CON or T1DM. However, during HYPO in T1DM, CBF increased by 10% in gray matter and 16% in brainstem, both p <0.05. CBF also increased by 10% - 18% in specific ROIs involved in awareness of internal states, reward and emotion (orbitofrontal cortex, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus, and substantia nigra; p<0.01 to p<0.05). Minimal increases in CBF (1% - 6%) were observed in regions primarily involved in sensory or motor function, (occipital cortex, motor cortex, cerebellum, caudate, putamen) or in the posterior cingulate (all p > 0.30). In CON, no significant global or regional changes in CBF occurred during HYPO. In all subjects, higher A1c correlated with greater increases in CBF during HYPO (p<0.05). Conclusions: 1) Hyperinsulinemia per se does not alter CBF in T1DM or CON, 2) During HYPO, brain blood flow increases more in T1DM vs. CON, especially in regions involved in integration of internal awareness, reward and emotion, compared to sensory or motor function, and 3) Greater increases in CBF in subjects with higher A1c suggest that compensatory physiologic mechanisms enable subjects with chronic exposure to hyperglycemia to maintain adequate cerebral glucose supply when plasma glucose levels are suddenly reduced. Disclosure D. C. Simonson: Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Phase V Technologies, Inc. N. R. Bolo: None. J. Theberge: None. G. Musen: None. A. M. Jacobson: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (DK073843)

The effect of technoference in parent-child relationships on adolescent smartphone addiction: The role of cognitive factors

The widespread application of technology devices creates opportunities to interrupt real-time communications and interactions, which is referred to as “technoference”. This study is aimed at determining whether the interference in parent–child relationships increases the risk of smartphone addiction among adolescents, and at examining the role of cognitive factors in this relationship. A total of 1,354 high school students from Hubei Province of China participated in this study. The participants responded to perceived technoference, attentional control, internal state awareness (ISA), and smartphone addiction. According to the results, the positive association between technology device interference in parent–child relationships and adolescents' smartphone addiction was partially mediated by attentional control. Moreover, the correlation between attentional control and smartphone addiction becomes stronger as the level of ISA increased.

Body mistrust bridges interoceptive awareness and eating disorder symptoms.

Interoceptive awareness (IA), or the awareness of internal body states, is known to be impaired in individuals with eating disorders (EDs); however, little is understood about how IA and ED symptoms are connected. Network analysis is a statistical approach useful for examining how symptoms interrelate and how comorbidities may be maintained. The present study used network analysis to (1) test central symptoms within an IA-ED network, (2) identify symptoms that may bridge the association between IA and ED symptoms, and (3) explore whether central and bridge symptoms predict ED remission at discharge from intensive treatment. A regularized partial correlation network was estimated in a sample of 428 adolescent (n = 187) and adult (n = 241) ED patients in a partial hospital program. IA was assessed using items from the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, and ED symptoms were assessed using items from the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Central symptoms within the network were strong desire to lose weight, feeling guilty, and listening for information from the body about emotional state. The most central symptom bridging IA and ED symptoms was (not) feeling safe in one's body. Of the central symptoms, greater desire to lose weight predicted lower likelihood of remission at treatment discharge. Bridge symptoms did not significantly predict remission. Body mistrust may be a mechanism by which associations between IA and EDs are maintained. Findings suggest targeting central and bridge symptoms may be helpful to improve IA and ED symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Some Compliments (and Insults) Are More Heartfelt

Abstract. Previous research suggests that individuals with increased awareness of internal bodily states (i.e., high interoceptive awareness) are more sensitive to emotional stimuli, particularly stimuli that are negative or threatening. Concurrently, there is increasing evidence that words that are more body-referent (e.g., bonehead) are processed faster, perceived more accurately, and generate larger neuroelectrical signals than those that are less body-referent (e.g., idiot). The present study examined individual differences in interoceptive awareness (IA) to these more embodied words. While electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded, participants passively viewed insults, compliments, and neutral stimuli, half of which were more embodied (e.g., bonehead, beautiful) and half of which were less embodied (e.g., idiot, friendly). Results showed that the high perceivers generated a larger P2 to embodied compliments than less embodied compliments while average perceivers generated a larger P2 to embodied insults than to less embodied insults. The results provide preliminary evidence that good cardiac awareness is not only associated with increased sensitivity to negative stimuli, but to stimuli pertaining to the body itself.

Interoceptive Awareness, Alexithymia, and Sexual Function

Research in women suggests a relation between sexual difficulties and lower interoceptive awareness, the conscious perception of internal bodily states. Lower interoceptive awareness is theoretically linked to greater alexithymia, which has been related to sexual dysfunctions. Hence, we examined the relations of interoceptive awareness and alexithymia with several dimensions of sexual functioning in a nonclinical sample of both sexes. Methods: Three hundred forty Portuguese (228 women, 112 men) completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). Women additionally completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale–Revised (FSDS-R). Men additionally completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and one question on difficulties delaying ejaculation. Greater alexithymia correlated with lesser interoceptive awareness. For women, greater alexithymia and lesser interoceptive awareness correlated with lesser arousal, lesser lubrication, more orgasm difficulties, more dissatisfaction, more pain, and more sexual distress. Higher female desire correlated with greater interoceptive awareness, but was unrelated to alexithymia. In men, lesser interoceptive awareness correlated with more difficulties delaying ejaculation, and greater alexithymia correlated with more erectile difficulties. The present investigation corroborates that awareness of emotions and internal bodily states is important for sexual functioning.

Profiling public and private self-consciousness on self-presentation tactic use

It seems generally accepted that public self-consciousness (PuSC) relates to increased use of self-presentation and private self-consciousness (PrSC) does not, but some researchers believe that PuSC and PrSC relate to different approaches to self-presentation. The present study aimed to profile PuSC and PrSC on self-presentation tactic use but advance previous investigations by differentiating PrSC dimensions: internal state awareness (ISA) and self-reflection (SR). We hypothesized that ISA and SR would manifest divergent self-presentation profiles and that neither profile would correspond closely with PuSC. MTurk participants (N = 298; Mage = 37.66; 61% female) first completed indices of PuSC, ISA, and SR, and then reported their past use of various self-presentation tactics. ISA and SR manifested divergent self-presentation profiles, and neither profile converged with PuSC. Specifically, ISA revealed a self-presentation profile that generally conveyed a principled and socially-potent identity; SR revealed a profile that conveyed an exploitative and opportunistic approach to identity construction; PuSC related specifically to ingratiation. In sum, PrSC is associated with self-presentation, but its dimensions reflect divergent self-presentational approaches. PuSC largely relates to tactical ingratiation and does not appear to represent a broad self-presentational orientation.

Experimental Studies on State Self-Objectification: A Review and an Integrative Process Model.

This paper provides an organizing framework for the experimental research on the effects of state self-objectification on women. We explain why this body of work, which had grown rapidly in the last 20 years, departs from the original formulation of objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts, 1997). We compare the different operationalizations of state self-objectification and examine how they map onto its theoretical definition, concluding that the operationalizations have focused mostly on one component of this construct (concerns about one's physical appearance) while neglecting others (adopting a third-person perspective and treating oneself as a dehumanized object). We review the main findings of studies that experimentally induced state self-objectification and examined its affective, motivational, behavioral, cognitive, and physiological outcomes. We note that three core outcomes of this state as specified by objectification theory (safety anxiety, reduced flow experiences, and awareness of internal body states) have hardly been examined so far. Most importantly, we introduce an integrative process model, suggesting that the reported effects are triggered by four different mechanisms: appearance monitoring, experience of discrepancy from appearance standards, stereotype threat, and activation of the “sex object” schema. We propose strategies for distinguishing between these mechanisms and explain the theoretical and practical importance of doing so.

Vladanje sobom: nužni uslov razvoja ličnosti, kvalitetne komunikacije i dobrih međuljudskih odnosa

Vladanje sobom: nužni uslov razvoja ličnosti, kvalitetne komunikacije i dobrih međuljudskih odnosa

The Effects of Art therapist's Careers on Counter - transference Management Ability and Counter - transference Utilization (Focus on the Intermediary Effects of Internal State Awareness)

The Effects of Art therapist's Careers on Counter - transference Management Ability and Counter - transference Utilization (Focus on the Intermediary Effects of Internal State Awareness)

Coping Style as a Moderator of Chronic Loneliness and Substance Use in Emerging Adults

Primary affective bonds are integral to forming successful close adult relationships and an inadequate sense of belongingness can lead to loneliness. Loneliness and insecure attachment have been consistently related to negative behavioural outcomes, such as substance use which is often used as a means to cope with negative emotions The goal of this study was to examine whether coping may moderate the relationship between attachment security, loneliness, and substance use. Two hundred and nine (209) young adults (18-30 years of age) completed self-report questionnaires measuring attachment security, loneliness, coping style, and level of substance use. In the current sample, 60.3% of participants met the criteria for alcohol misuse and 48.3% met the criteria for drug misuse. Results showed that higher levels of chronic social loneliness predicted higher levels of substance use (p =. 029), but coping did not moderate this relationship. Higher attachment avoidance predicted higher levels of substance use (p < .001), while adaptive coping moderated this relationship (p = .001). Since adaptive coping skills may buffer avoidant individuals against substance misuse, it may be useful for substance use interventions to be tailored, such that avoidant individuals are taught coping skills that promote greater awareness of internal states and lessen feelings of interpersonal distress.

Is the relationship between sensory‐processing sensitivity and negative affect mediated by emotional regulation?

ObjectiveSensory‐processing sensitivity refers to a trait‐like difference in the extent to which individuals strongly and deeply process a variety of stimuli in the environment. While being highly sensitive has been linked to increased experiences of distress, the reasons for this are not well known. One potential mediator of this effect is emotional regulation—the set of processes influencing which emotions we have, when we have them, and how we experience and express them. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether sensory processing sensitivity is linked to negative affect via emotional regulation processes.MethodN = 157 participants (n = 118 females) completed online questionnaires assessing negative affect, sensory‐processing sensitivity, along with two multidimensional emotional regulation measures.ResultsAn individual's lack of access to emotional regulation strategies, greater awareness of emotion, and lack of acceptance towards feeling distressed, acted as partial mediators between sensory‐processing sensitivity and symptoms of depression. Combinations of these variables also partially mediated the relationship between sensory‐processing sensitivity and symptoms of anxiety and stress.ConclusionsIt is suggested that repeatedly experiencing aversive sensory‐states among those with increased sensory‐processing sensitivity impacts on their general awareness and acceptance of internal states and the confidence that one can regulate them. This in turn leads to the experience of negative affective states. Limitations of the present study and implications for therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Complexities of emotional responses to social and non-social affective stimuli in schizophrenia.

Background: Adaptive emotional responses are important in interpersonal relationships. We investigated self-reported emotional experience, physiological reactivity, and micro-facial expressivity in relation to the social nature of stimuli in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ).Method: Galvanic skin response (GSR) and facial electromyography (fEMG) were recorded in medicated outpatients with SZ and demographically matched healthy controls (CO) while they viewed social and non-social images from the International Affective Pictures System. Participants rated the valence and arousal, and selected a label for experienced emotions. Symptom severity in the SZ and psychometric schizotypy in CO were assessed.Results: The two groups did not differ in their labeling of the emotions evoked by the stimuli, but individuals with SZ were more positive in their valence ratings. Although self-reported arousal was similar in both groups, mean GSR was greater in SZ, suggesting differential awareness, or calibration of internal states. Both groups reported social images to be more arousing than non-social images but their physiological responses to non-social vs. social images were different. Self-reported arousal to neutral social images was correlated with positive symptoms in SZ. Negative symptoms in SZ and disorganized schizotypy in CO were associated with reduced mean fEMG. Greater corrugator mean fEMG activity for positive images in SZ indicates valence-incongruent facial expressions.Conclusion: The patterns of emotional responses differed between the two groups. While both groups were in broad agreement in self-reported arousal and emotion labels, their mean GSR, and fEMG correlates of emotion diverged in relation to the social nature of the stimuli and clinical measures. Importantly, these results suggest disrupted self awareness of internal states in SZ and underscore the complexities of emotion processing in health and disease.