Cited by 234Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychological Treatments and AssessmentsMental Health via Writing

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Anxiety and the interpretation of ambiguity: A text comprehension study.

MacLeod, Colin, Cohen, Ilan Lawrence·1993·Journal of Abnormal Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0021-843x.102.2.238

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Abstract

Beck's influential cognitive account of anxiety has led to the prediction that individuals vulnerable to anxiety should favor threatening interpretations of ambiguity (e.g., Beck & Clark, 1988; Beck, Emery, & Greenberg, 1986). The current study introduces a novel adaptation of the RSVP technique, previously used in text comprehension research, to evaluate this hypothesis. Results suggest that a group of 24 high trait anxious students did indeed selectively impose threatening interpretations on unconstrained ambiguous sentences. In contrast, a matched group of 24 low trait anxious students appeared to selectively impose non-threatening interpretations on such ambiguous sentences. These findings are fully consistent with the predicted anxiety-linked interpretative bias. Specific testable hypotheses are developed concerning the types of interpretative idiosyncrasies that plausibly may contribute to pathological anxiety.

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Authors: MacLeod, C., & Cohen, I. L.
Affiliations: The University of Western Australia (AU)
ORCID: MacLeod, Colin
Venue: Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1993-05
Volume: 102
Issue: 2
Pages: 238-247
ISSN: 0021-843X (ISSN-L)
1939-1846
DOI: 10.1037/0021-843x.102.2.238
OpenAlex: W2073092513
Cited by: 234
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 2.68
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Abnormal Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
Keywords: anxiety, interpretation bias, ambiguity, Beck, trait anxiety, text comprehension, rapid serial visual presentation, ambiguous sentences, pathological anxiety
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Arousal, Depressive Disorder, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Language, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Speech Perception

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Anxiety and the interpretation of ambiguity: A text comprehension study.

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