Perception of memory ability and confidence in recollections in obsessive-compulsive checking
Jesse R Cougle1, Paul M Salkovskis, Karina Wahl
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. cougle@mail.utexas.edu <cougle@mail.utexas.edu>
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|May 3, 2006
Summary
Obsessive-compulsive (OC) checkers exhibit lower confidence in memory recall, particularly for responsibility-related situations. This suggests memory confidence, not just ability, may drive checking behaviors in OCD.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Research on memory deficits in obsessive-compulsive (OC) checking has shifted focus to beliefs like recall confidence as potential motivations.
- Poor confidence in recall can be specific to an event or general to a memory class.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate memory ability perception and recall confidence in individuals with OC checking.
- To compare these perceptions in OC checkers against non-checking obsessional patients, anxious controls, and non-clinical controls.
Main Methods:
- Assessed perception of memory ability and confidence in recollections across various situations (OC-relevant and non-relevant).
- Compared ratings between OC checkers and control groups (non-checking obsessional, anxious, non-clinical).
Main Results:
- OC checkers reported poorer memory perception, especially in situations where they felt responsible (both OC-relevant and non-relevant).
- OC checkers showed lower confidence in recollections, specifically in OC-relevant situations for which they felt responsible.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the cognitive model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
- Memory confidence, particularly in responsibility-related contexts, may be a key factor in motivating checking behaviors in OCD.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
01:22Eyewitness Memory
Eyewitness memory refers to the recollection of events by someone who has directly witnessed them, often serving as critical evidence in legal settings. This type of memory is commonly used in criminal cases where a witness describes details like a suspect's appearance, clothing, or behavior during a crime. However, despite its perceived reliability, eyewitness memory is prone to significant errors.
One such error is memory distortion, which occurs because human memory does not function like a...
One such error is memory distortion, which occurs because human memory does not function like a...
01:16Interference and Decay
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
01:24Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive
Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...