The Efficacy of Downward Counterfactual Thinking for Regulating Emotional Memories in Anxious Individuals.

ABSTRACT: Aversive autobiographical memories sometimes prompt maladaptive emotional responses and contribute to affective dysfunction in anxiety and depression. One way to regulate the impact of such memories is to create a downward counterfactual thought-a mental simulation of how the event could have been worse-to put what occurred in a more positive light. Despite its intuitive appeal, counterfactual thinking has not been systematically studied for its regulatory efficacy. In the current study, we compared the regulatory impact of downward counterfactual thinking, temporal distancing, and memory rehearsal in 54 adult participants representing a spectrum of trait anxiety. Participants recalled regretful experiences and rated them on valence, arousal, regret, and episodic detail. Two to six days la

SUBMITTER: Parikh N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8764234 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature