Cognitive Processes in Dissociation: An Analysis of Core Theoretical Assumptions

Dissociation is typically defined as the lack of normal integration of thoughts, feelings, and experiences into consciousness and memory. The present article critically evaluates the research literature on cognitive processes in dissociation. The authors' review indicates that dissociation is c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological bulletin 2008-09, Vol.134 (5), p.617-647
Main Authors: Giesbrecht, Timo, Lynn, Steven Jay, Lilienfeld, Scott O, Merckelbach, Harald
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Analysis
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Cognition Disorders - psychology
Cognitive models
Cognitive Processes
Consciousness
Correlation
Dissociation
Dissociative Disorders - diagnosis
Dissociative Disorders - psychology
Emotions
Evaluation
Fantasy
Human
Human Information Storage
Humans
Information Processing
Inhibition
Interviews
Literature
Medical sciences
Memory
Mental Disorders
Miscellaneous
Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology - methods
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Psychoanalytic Theory
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Recall (Psychology)
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Trauma
Undergraduate Students
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Summary:Dissociation is typically defined as the lack of normal integration of thoughts, feelings, and experiences into consciousness and memory. The present article critically evaluates the research literature on cognitive processes in dissociation. The authors' review indicates that dissociation is characterized by subtle deficits in neuropsychological performance (e.g., heightened distractibility). Some of the cognitive phenomena (e.g., weakened cognitive inhibition) associated with dissociation appear to be dependent on the emotional or attentional context. Contrary to a widespread assumption in the clinical literature, dissociation does not appear to be related to avoidant information processing. Rather, it is associated with an enhanced propensity toward pseudo-memories, possibly mediated by heightened levels of interrogative suggestibility, fantasy proneness, and cognitive failures. Evidence for a link between dissociation and either memory fragmentation or early trauma based on objective measures is conspicuously lacking. The authors identify a variety of methodological issues and discrepancies that make it difficult to articulate a comprehensive framework for cognitive mechanisms in dissociation. The authors conclude with a discussion of research domains (e.g., sleep-related experiences, drug-related dissociation) that promise to advance our understanding of cognition and dissociation.
ISSN:0033-2909
1939-1455
DOI:10.1037/0033-2909.134.5.617