Dissociation and Memory for Neutral and Traumatic Stories

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Date

2005-11

Authors

Klest, Bridget K. (Bridget Kristen)
Freyd, Jennifer J.

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Abstract

Previous research has consistently found a positive correlation between history of trauma and dissociation, and recent research (DePrince and Freyd, 1999; 2004) suggests that people who score high on a measure of dissociation may have enhanced abilities at dividing attention and suppressing traumatic information from consciousness. The current study set out to replicate these findings using more complex stimuli than have been used previously. Fifty-two subjects, half scoring high and half low on the Dissociative Experiences Scale, watched neutral videos while listening to neutral and trauma related stories. High dissociators remembered significantly more than low dissociators when listening to neutral stories, and performed no differently than low dissociators when listening to trauma related stories. This interaction was significant, t (50) = 1.72, p < .05 (one-tailed), and this finding is consistent with previous research.

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Citation

Klest, B. & Freyd, J.J. (2005). Dissociation and Memory for Neutral and Traumatic Stories. Poster presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, November 2-5, 2005.