Feared Self, Inferential Confusion, and Magical Ideation in Obsessive Compulsive Phenomena

IF 3.2 3区 心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL
Yoon-Hee Yang, Tess Jaeger, Richard Moulding
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Abstract

Recent literature suggests that the feared self, a version of self that one is afraid of becoming, is related to obsessive–compulsive (OC) phenomena. However, as this construct is not specific, the existence of the feared self itself does not fully explain why some people may develop obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) while others do not. This indicates that other constructs may play a role, in particular those that may influence the tendency of individuals endorsing negative imagined possibilities over reality—including inferential confusion and magical ideation. Inferential confusion is a reasoning bias specific to OCD and may be able to explain how OC symptoms develop from more general vulnerable self-themes and intrusions commonly reported in the general population. Additionally, magical ideation is another important cognitive bias that could explain the strong beliefs individuals with OCD have with respect to the effectiveness of compulsive rituals. However, to our knowledge, no study to date has investigated the relationships among these three constructs. Using a nonclinical population (N = 385), this study supported the proposed moderated-mediation model conducted via PROCESS. The link between the feared self and OCD symptoms was mediated by inferential confusion, and magical ideation was a moderator of the effects of inferential confusion. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical support for the role of the feared self in predicting OC symptoms. It elucidates how a vulnerable self-view may escalate to OCD symptoms via inferential confusion, with the relationship strengthened further by beliefs in magical ideation which is often employed by individuals under stress.

Summary

  • While feared self is associated with obsessive–compulsive (OC) phenomena, on its own it is insufficient to explain why only some individuals may develop symptoms.
  • The reasoning bias of inferential confusion, where individuals endorse imagined possibilities over reality, was found to mediate this relationship.
  • Magical ideation, the tendency to have beliefs that defy culturally accepted laws of causality, amplified the effects that inferential confusion had on OC symptom severity.
  • While a nonclinical study, this suggests that clinical interventions that directly target cognitive biases such as inferential confusion and magical ideation, along with feared self, may enhance treatment efficacy.

Abstract Image

强迫性现象中的恐惧自我、推理混乱和神奇概念
最近的文献表明,恐惧的自我,一个人害怕成为的自我,与强迫症(OC)现象有关。然而,由于这种结构并不具体,恐惧自我本身的存在并不能完全解释为什么有些人可能会患上强迫症(OCD),而另一些人则不会。这表明其他构念可能也起了作用,尤其是那些可能影响个人倾向于赞同负面想象可能性而不是现实的构念——包括推理混乱和魔幻思维。推理混乱是强迫症特有的一种推理偏差,可能能够解释强迫症症状是如何从一般人群中常见的脆弱自我主题和入侵发展而来的。此外,神奇的想法是另一个重要的认知偏见,可以解释强迫症患者对强迫性仪式的有效性的强烈信念。然而,据我们所知,迄今为止还没有研究调查过这三种构念之间的关系。使用非临床人群(N = 385),本研究支持通过PROCESS进行的拟议的有调节-中介模型。恐惧自我和强迫症症状之间的联系是由推理混乱介导的,而神奇的概念是推理混乱影响的调节剂。本研究为恐惧自我在预测强迫症症状中的作用提供了实证支持。它阐明了脆弱的自我观点是如何通过推理混乱而升级为强迫症症状的,而这种关系又被人们在压力下经常使用的神奇思维的信念进一步加强了。虽然恐惧自我与强迫症(OC)现象有关,但它本身不足以解释为什么只有一些人可能出现症状。研究发现,推理混乱的推理偏见,即个体认同想象中的可能性而不是现实,调解了这种关系。神奇的想法,倾向于拥有违背文化上公认的因果关系法则的信念,放大了推理混乱对OC症状严重程度的影响。虽然这是一项非临床研究,但这表明直接针对认知偏见(如推理混乱和神奇思维)以及恐惧自我的临床干预可能会提高治疗效果。
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来源期刊
Clinical psychology & psychotherapy
Clinical psychology & psychotherapy PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-
CiteScore
6.30
自引率
5.60%
发文量
106
期刊介绍: Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy aims to keep clinical psychologists and psychotherapists up to date with new developments in their fields. The Journal will provide an integrative impetus both between theory and practice and between different orientations within clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy will be a forum in which practitioners can present their wealth of expertise and innovations in order to make these available to a wider audience. Equally, the Journal will contain reports from researchers who want to address a larger clinical audience with clinically relevant issues and clinically valid research.
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