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Related Concept Videos

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder01:28

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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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...
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Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive01:24

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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.
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The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those...
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Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
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Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

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One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.  
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Self-Based Concepts and Obsessive-Compulsive Phenomena.

Claire Ahern1, Michael Kyrios, Richard Moulding

  • 1Swinburne University of Technology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

Psychopathology
|September 15, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Self-ambivalence, particularly regarding moral standards, increases vulnerability to obsessive-compulsive (OC) phenomena. This cognitive vulnerability highlights a key factor in understanding OC disorder development.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Investigates self-perceptions as a vulnerability factor in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
  • Examines Guidano and Liotti's model of self-ambivalence and moral self-worth.
  • Explores mechanisms linking self-perception to noticing unwanted intrusions in OCD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine self-perceptions as a vulnerability to OCD phenomena using a cognitive framework.
  • To investigate self-ambivalence and moral standards as potential mechanisms in OCD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an analogue framework with undergraduate psychology students.
  • Administered a battery of self-report questionnaires to assess variables.
  • Analyzed data to determine moderating effects on OCD vulnerability.

Main Results:

  • Self-ambivalence moderated the link between high moral standards and OCD phenomena.
  • Individuals with high moral standards and high self-ambivalence exhibited greater OCD vulnerability.
  • Findings suggest a specific pathway to increased OC vulnerability.

Conclusions:

  • Ambivalence regarding moral self-worth may represent a specific vulnerability to OCD symptoms.
  • Discusses directions for future research and explores implications of the findings.
  • Highlights the role of cognitive factors in OCD development and maintenance.