The effects of rational and irrational self-verbalizations on performance efficiency and levels of anxiety

Abstract

Investigated the effects of rational vs. irrational belief systems (as measured by the Ellis Irrational Values Scale) and rational vs. irrational self‐verbalizations on levels of anxiety and persistence on a performance task. Ss (N = 40) were instructed to assemble a virtually insolvable task call Soma. The variables of interest were how long each S would persist on this task and how much anxiety (as measured by the A‐State portion of the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory) was aroused in working on this task. Following a baseline trial trying to solve Soma, Ss were assigned to either a rational or irrational self‐talk condition and were led to believe that such self‐talk would help in a second attempt to solve Soma. In line with cognitive models of psychology, it was found that rational self‐talk Ss showed a significant decrease in levels of state anxiety compared to irrational self‐talk Ss in attempting to solve Soma in the second trial. Contrary to cognitive models of psychology, scores obtained from the EIVS and the A‐Trait portion of the STAI were not found to be related to persistence.

Non-invasive brain stimulation and the autonomic nervous system

“…One option to disentangle these effects is to separate autonomic changes secondary to arousal versus activation of autonomic centers is the use of scales to assess unpleasantness of the stimulation using a simple visual analogue scale such as Foerster et al (1997) performed. Another way is to apply the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Rosin and Nelson, 1983) scale. If strong correlations between these scores and autonomic responses are found, vegetative changes due to arousal effectand not due to direct autonomic activation -is more likely.…”

Cognitive Treatment Through Positive Self-Verbalization: A Multiple Case Study

“…The impact of negative self-talk on performance anxiety and on depression has been confirmed in clinical research (Cramer & Kupshik, 1993;Huber & Mitchell Altmaier, 1983;Ingram, 1989;Missel & Sommer, 1983). A large number of studies shows that negative self-talk may also be operative in impairing the performance of creative tasks, problem solving skills and the control of fear (Meichenbaum, 1974;Meichenbaum & Cameron, 1974;Bonadies & Bass, 1984;Eifert & Lauterbach, 1987;Rosin & Nelson, 1983;Safran, 1982).…”

Effect of four aspects of rational statements on expected satisfaction with a close relationship

“…An example of such an intervention is Velten's (1968) widely used mood induction procedure (Westermann et al, 1996) which has been adapted so that participants repeat rational or irrational statements to themselves about a situation (Rosin & Nelson, 1983). With this procedure participants reiterating rational statements have reported less distress than those verbalising irrational statements about a real (Cramer & Buckland, 1995;Cramer & Kupshik, 1993) or an imaginary potentially negative situation (Cramer & Fong, 1991).…”