The effect of hypervigilance on negative memory recall in socially anxious people

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to explore the existence and effects of hypervigilance on negative memory recall of a social situation. It was hypothesised that a higher level of social anxiety would predict a higher level of hypervigilance. A higher level of hypervigilance would predict a higher amount of negative memories recollected, as well as a higher accuracy of negative memory recollection versus positive or neutral memory recollection. In order to do this, 33 participants took place in a 3-part experiment. The participants had to perform a social stress task in the form of having a speech in front of a 4 man audience. Their memory recollection was measured at two time-points via a questionnaire about the audience’s behaviours and surroundings. As the measurement of the level of hypervigilance had an unreadable output, the level of social anxiety was used to predict the negative memory recollection and the accuracy thereof. Results show that a higher level of social anxiety predicts a significant lower level of negative memory recollection, opposite that which was expected. It also shows that a higher level of social anxiety predicts a significant lower accuracy of negative memory recollection compared versus positive or neutral memories, also opposite than what was expected. Future research should focus on the attentional shift away from all social stimuli in social situations instead of hypervigilance, as this seems to have a greater effect on memory recollection of daily life.