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The effects of repeated imagery practice on self-concept, anxiety and performance in socially anxious participants

The effects of repeated imagery practice on self-concept, anxiety and performance in socially anxious participants
The effects of repeated imagery practice on self-concept, anxiety and performance in socially anxious participants
Current cognitive models of social phobia, all stress the importance of negative self-perceptions in maintaining social anxiety (Moscovitch, 2009, Hofmann, 2007; Rapee & Heimberg, 1997; Clark & Wells, 1995). In some models, (Clark & Wells, 1995) negative self-perceptions are embodied in the form of a visual image. In this study, 58 socially anxious participants were assigned to either a positive (n =19) or a negative (n =19) self-imagery condition and we tested the impact of repeated imagery practice on self-concept (self-esteem and self-concept clarity), and on anxiety and performance in a conversation with a stooge. Participants in each condition practiced holding either a positive or a negative self-image in mind over eight days while at the same time imagining themselves in a series of increasingly challenging social situations. After the final imagery practice, participants took part in a conversation with a stooge. We hypothesised that repeated practice with a positive image would produce higher levels of self-esteem, more self-concept clarity, and would lead to less anxiety and better ratings of performance than holding a negative image. The hypotheses were partially supported. Positive self- imagery practice led to higher self-esteem ratings and higher self-concept clarity on a computerised measure of self-concept clarity, but not on a self-report measure. Positive self-imagery practice also produced better performance ratings in the social test (in both subjective and objective assessments of performance) and a trend towards reduced anxiety. The results are discussed in relation to Conway and Pleydell-Pearce’s (2000) self-memory model and the clinical implications are considered.
2043-8087
223-242
Stopa, Lusia
b52f29fc-d1c2-450d-b321-68f95fa22c40
Brown, Mike A.
da3d25d1-2da3-4c07-992b-e6f5810790ad
Hirsch, Colette R.
6f8c56e0-f25b-429c-b618-c2b2f35dc9bf
Stopa, Lusia
b52f29fc-d1c2-450d-b321-68f95fa22c40
Brown, Mike A.
da3d25d1-2da3-4c07-992b-e6f5810790ad
Hirsch, Colette R.
6f8c56e0-f25b-429c-b618-c2b2f35dc9bf

Stopa, Lusia, Brown, Mike A. and Hirsch, Colette R. (2012) The effects of repeated imagery practice on self-concept, anxiety and performance in socially anxious participants. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 3 (2), 223-242. (doi:10.5127/jep.021511).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Current cognitive models of social phobia, all stress the importance of negative self-perceptions in maintaining social anxiety (Moscovitch, 2009, Hofmann, 2007; Rapee & Heimberg, 1997; Clark & Wells, 1995). In some models, (Clark & Wells, 1995) negative self-perceptions are embodied in the form of a visual image. In this study, 58 socially anxious participants were assigned to either a positive (n =19) or a negative (n =19) self-imagery condition and we tested the impact of repeated imagery practice on self-concept (self-esteem and self-concept clarity), and on anxiety and performance in a conversation with a stooge. Participants in each condition practiced holding either a positive or a negative self-image in mind over eight days while at the same time imagining themselves in a series of increasingly challenging social situations. After the final imagery practice, participants took part in a conversation with a stooge. We hypothesised that repeated practice with a positive image would produce higher levels of self-esteem, more self-concept clarity, and would lead to less anxiety and better ratings of performance than holding a negative image. The hypotheses were partially supported. Positive self- imagery practice led to higher self-esteem ratings and higher self-concept clarity on a computerised measure of self-concept clarity, but not on a self-report measure. Positive self-imagery practice also produced better performance ratings in the social test (in both subjective and objective assessments of performance) and a trend towards reduced anxiety. The results are discussed in relation to Conway and Pleydell-Pearce’s (2000) self-memory model and the clinical implications are considered.

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Published date: January 2012

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 338188
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/338188
ISSN: 2043-8087
PURE UUID: 34ea1b95-36bf-4207-9960-14ca45d90f7f

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Date deposited: 10 May 2012 13:52
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:02

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Contributors

Author: Lusia Stopa
Author: Mike A. Brown
Author: Colette R. Hirsch

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