Year of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Clinical Psychology

Department or School/College

Department of Psychology

Committee Co-chair

Paul Silverman, Duncan Campbell

Commitee Members

Yoonhee Jang, Rachel Severson, Catherine Off

Keywords

Attachment, Autobiographical memory, Functional Avoidance, Overgeneral memory

Abstract

and PTSD generate overgeneral autobiographical memories. It has been proposed that this phenomenon is the result of functional avoidance—actively avoiding thoughts that would elicit unwanted negative affect. Curiously, the functional avoidance hypothesis of overgeneral memory (OGM) overlaps conceptually with attachment theory’s concept of defensive exclusion. The current study tests whether a model of defensive exclusion predicts the presence of OGM and whether variables underlying the functional avoidance hypothesis (i.e., trauma exposure, PTSD, and depression) account for a significant amount of variance in OGM above and beyond the defensive exclusion model. Threehundred and thirty adults completed an untimed version of the minimal instructions autobiographical memory test (AMT) online, and a series of questionnaires related to cognitive avoidance, depression, PTSD, trauma exposure, and adult attachment. The proportion of categoric memories generated on the AMT represented the construct of OGM in the current study. A significant positive correlation was found between cognitive avoidance and the proportion of categoric memories on the AMT, indicating that people reporting higher levels of cognitive avoidance also generate more overgeneral categoric memories on the AMT. Contrary to expectations, attachment avoidance did not moderate the relationship between cognitive avoidance and OGM nor did this interaction significantly predict the presence of OGM. In addition, self-reported trauma exposure, PTSD, and depression did not predict the presence of OGM. Consistent with prior research, data indicate that people reporting higher levels of cognitive avoidance also generate more categoric memories on the AMT. Contrary to expectations, adult attachment avoidance did not moderate the relationship between cognitive avoidance and OGM. Further, trauma exposure, PTSD, and depression were unrelated to OGM. Findings are discussed in the context of methodological differences using the AMT.

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© Copyright 2023 Mark David Primosch