title: The influence of cognitive and emotional suppression on overgeneral autobiographical memory retrieval.
abstract: Over-general autobiographical memory (OAM) retrieval is characterized by retrieval of categoric autobiographical memories. According to the CarFAX model, this tendency may result from avoidance which functions to protect the person against recalling details of upsetting memories. This study tested whether avoidance strategies impact on the ability to retrieve specific autobiographical memories. Healthy participants (N=51) watched a negative video clip and were instructed to either suppress any thought (thought suppression), suppress any feeling (emotional inhibition), or think and feel naturally (controls) in response to the video. Participants then completed the Autobiographical Memory Test. Participants engaging in either thought suppression or emotional inhibition retrieved fewer categoric autobiographical memories than controls. These findings challenge the affect regulation component of the CarFAX model insofar as they suggest that regulatory strategies that aim to reduce awareness of adverse emotional memories do not necessarily lead to increased recall of categoric autobiographical memories.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sang Quang
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Phung
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autobiographical memory; Avoidance; Emotional inhibition; Thought suppression