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Priming Thoughts of Failing Versus Succeeding and Performance on the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a Measure of Self-Forgiveness

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to test the effect of positive and negative priming on the assessment of self-forgiveness in the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) related to emotional reactions and expected outcomes in everyday life. Additionally, the research explored the extent to which such implicit reactions were related to standardized measures of psychopathology, including depression, anxiety, stress, and a scale that was based directly on the IRAP.

Method

Eighty-one undergraduates were assigned in 2 groups, where they were presented with different conditions, positive and negative priming, in which participants had to recall in writing three experiences of failing or succeeding; participants then completed 2 IRAPs, 1 targeting feelings and the other targeting outcomes as related to failing and succeeding behaviors. In addition, participants were asked to complete 2 explicit measures that were derived from the 2 IRAPs and another 2 explicit measures that targeted self-compassion and stress, anxiety, and depression.

Results

The findings showed that the priming conditions affected the 2 IRAPs differentially. Furthermore, the IRAP that targeted feelings predicted level of self-reported psychopathology but only for participants in the positive priming condition. The findings are discussed in the context of providing tentative evidence for experiential avoidance.

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Ethical Statement

This paper has not been previously published and has not been and will not be submitted elsewhere during the review process. I also declare that this paper is in accordance with all the Ethical Standards and that we have no conflict of interest.

The research was conducted and the current article prepared with the support of a CAPES scholarship (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel), awarded by the Brazilian Ministry of Education to the first author.

Diana Bast

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Maynooth University (MU), John Hume Building, North Campus, NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

    Diana Ferroni Bast & Dermot Barnes-Holmes

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  1. Diana Ferroni Bast
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  2. Dermot Barnes-Holmes
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Correspondence to Diana Ferroni Bast.

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Authors’ Note

The research was conducted and the current article prepared with the support of a CAPES scholarship (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel), awarded by the Brazilian Ministry of Education to the first author.

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Bast, D.F., Barnes-Holmes, D. Priming Thoughts of Failing Versus Succeeding and Performance on the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a Measure of Self-Forgiveness. Psychol Rec 65, 667–678 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-015-0137-0

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