Phenomenal characteristics of autobiographical memories for social and non-social events in social phobia.

Full Abstract

Previous studies failed to show clear differences between people with social phobia and non-anxious individuals regarding the specificity and affective intensity of their autobiographical memories for social events. However, these studies did not assess the subjective experience associated with remembering. In this study, people with social phobia and non-anxious control participants recalled social and non-social events, and rated the phenomenal characteristics of their memories. The memories of people with social phobia for social events contained fewer sensorial details but more self-referential information than controls' memories. In addition, people with social phobia remembered social situations from an observer perspective, viewing themselves as if from outside, to a greater extent than controls. By contrast, the two groups did not differ concerning their memories for non-social events. These findings are discussed in relation to cognitive models of social phobia.

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Author information

Author/s: D'Argembeau, Arnaud (A); Van der Linden, Martial (M); d'Acremont, Mathieu (M); Mayers, Isabelle (I);

Affiliation: Cognitive Psychopathology Unit, University of Liège, Belgium. a.dargembeau(-atsign-)ulg.ac.be

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Memory (Hove, England) (Memory), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 14 (issue 5) : pp 637-47

Dates: Created 2006/06/06; Completed 2006/12/12;

PMID: 16754247, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Anxiety - psychology
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Memory
Mental Recall

Mental Recall
Models, Psychological
Phobic Disorders - psychology
Self Concept
Sensation
Social Behavior
Social Behavior Disorders - psychology
Social Perception

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