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The Psychological Displacement Paradigm in Diary-Writing (PDPD) and its Psychological Benefits

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Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the psychological displacement paradigm in diary-writing (PDPD) had both immediate and short-term psychological benefits. Participants were randomly assigned to write about their recent negative life experiences two times a week for 2 weeks in PDPD group or comparison group. Results revealed that the PDPD group displayed a decrease in negative emotion and an increase in positive emotion immediately after each writing session; they also showed an increase in psychological well-being relative to the comparison group for at least 2 weeks. Implications for PDPD are discussed.

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Notes

  1. Because the entire counterbalance sequence of writing groups need too many conditions and participants, and there is also no single complete comparison group. Therefore, the authors adopt a typical expressive writing condition for corresponding to the traditional writing therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Jen-Ho Chang & Yi-Cheng Lin

  2. Department of Humanities and Social Science, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 43, Sec. 4, Keelung Rd., Da’an, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan

    Chin-Lan Huang

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  1. Jen-Ho Chang
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  2. Chin-Lan Huang
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  3. Yi-Cheng Lin
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Correspondence to Jen-Ho Chang.

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Chang, JH., Huang, CL. & Lin, YC. The Psychological Displacement Paradigm in Diary-Writing (PDPD) and its Psychological Benefits. J Happiness Stud 14, 155–167 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9321-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9321-y

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