Failure Imagery Reduces Self-Reflectivity in Individuals High in Activity Inhibition

Abstract

The present research tested the effects of failure imagery on the structure of conscious thought. Based on prior research which shows that (a) individuals high in activity inhibition (as measured by the picture-story exercise) tend to suppress negative mood-relevant thought and (b) suppression can be accomplished by shifting to a low level of thinking, it was assumed that failure imagery induces a shift toward low-level thinking in individuals high in activity inhibition. Participants had to imagine either successfully achieving two important goals they were currently pursuing or failing to do so. After the imagination task, they were asked to work on a stream-of-consciousness writing task. Protocols were analyzed for self-reflectivity (operationalized as the frequency of using the pronoun “I”) and awareness of emotions. The lowest level of self-reflectivity was found among individuals high in activity inhibition who imagined a failure of goal pursuit. This result is discussed with respect to the long-term consequences of suppressing negative mood-relevant thought.