Worry and the suppression of imagery

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Borkovec's theory posits worry functions to shield individuals from distressing emotional imagery.
• Previous research compared thought and image frequency during imagery and relaxation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if worry's function is to protect against distressing emotional imagery.
• To determine if reduced imagery during worry is unique to worry.

Main Methods:

• Experiment comparing thought and image frequency.
• Included conditions for worry, relaxation, and present-oriented mentation.

Main Results:

• Confirmed worry is associated with less imagery than relaxation.
• Present-oriented mentation was associated with even less imagery than worry.
• Reduced imagery during worry is not distinctive to worry.

Conclusions:

• The finding that worry reduces imagery is not unique to worry.
• Other forms of thinking are as effective as worry in suppressing emotional imagery.
• Worry's imagery-suppressing property is insufficient to explain its occurrence.