Date of Award
2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Graham, Steven
Keywords
Written Emotional Expression, Introspection, Trauma
Area of Concentration
Psychology
Abstract
The effects of two types of introspection, one emotional and relevant to writing and one neutral and unrelated to writing, were compared in combination with a ten minute period of written emotional expression about a traumatic life experience. Forty five undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) emotional introspection, 2) neutral introspection, or 3) control. Participants in the emotional introspection condition experienced significantly fewer intrusive and avoidant thoughts as compared to participants in the neutral introspection condition. Affective scores significantly differed after writing for both introspection conditions but did not surpass that of the control condition at follow up two days later. Writing did not produce significant short term mental health benefits; however, introspection seemed to mediate the effect of writing and thus should be included in future studies for additional benefits.
Recommended Citation
Posner, Zoe, "TO THINK OR NOT TO THINK: THE EFFECTS OF EMOTIONALLY CHARGED INTROSPECTION BEFORE WRITTEN EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION OF A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE" (2013). Theses & ETDs. 6795.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6795
Rights
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