Furnham Adrian, Petrides K V, Sisterson Grant, Baluch Bahman
Department of Psychology, University College London, UK.
Br J Health Psychol. 2003 May;8(Pt 2):223-49. doi: 10.1348/135910703321649187.
This paper reviews 59 studies looking at cognitive, individual differences and physiological correlates of the repressive coping style, as defined by Weinberger, Schwartz, and Davidson (1979). A central aim is to evaluate the relative importance of the anxiety and social desirability components of repression. Thus, the empirical study investigates the relationships between repression and a number of relevant, but hitherto unexamined, constructs, including trait emotional intelligence (trait EI), self-estimated intelligence, functional and dysfunctional impulsivity, and stoicism. It was hypothesized that repressors would score higher than the other three groups on trait EI, self-estimated IQ and functional impulsivity, but lower on dysfunctional impulsivity.
In total, 259 (174 females) participants from three British universities completed questionnaires measuring the dependent and independent variables. Participants were divided into four groups (truly low anxious, non-defensive/high anxious, defensive/high anxious and repressors) based on their scores on anxiety and social desirability. Analyses (moderated multiple regressions and ANOVAs) were conducted both on the total sample as well as on 'extreme-scoring' individuals.
Where there were significant differences, the hypotheses were supported, particularly with respect to trait EI, self-estimated IQ and impulsivity. Using 'extreme-scoring' groups did not effectively change the results. The regressions revealed an absence of significant interactions between anxiety and social desirability.
Results are discussed in terms of the now replicated effect that repressors present a highly positive and optimistic self-image, despite cognitive and behavioural data suggesting that their coping style is psychologically unhealthy. In addition, it is argued that many findings in the repressive coping style literature can be parsimoniously explained through main effects of anxiety or social desirability alone (i.e., without invoking a construct that combines the two).
本文回顾了59项研究，这些研究关注的是由温伯格、施瓦茨和戴维森（1979年）定义的压抑应对方式的认知、个体差异和生理相关性。一个核心目标是评估压抑中焦虑和社会期望成分的相对重要性。因此，这项实证研究调查了压抑与一些相关但此前未被研究的构念之间的关系，包括特质情绪智力（特质EI）、自我估计智力、功能性和非功能性冲动以及坚忍克己。研究假设是，压抑者在特质EI、自我估计智商和功能性冲动方面的得分会高于其他三组，但在非功能性冲动方面得分较低。
来自三所英国大学的259名参与者（174名女性）完成了测量因变量和自变量的问卷。参与者根据他们在焦虑和社会期望方面的得分被分为四组（真正低焦虑组、非防御性/高焦虑组、防御性/高焦虑组和压抑者组）。对整个样本以及“极端得分”个体进行了分析（调节多元回归和方差分析）。
在存在显著差异的情况下，研究假设得到了支持，特别是在特质EI、自我估计智商和冲动性方面。使用“极端得分”组并没有有效地改变结果。回归分析显示焦虑和社会期望之间不存在显著的交互作用。
研究结果从现在已被复制的效应方面进行了讨论，即压抑者呈现出高度积极和乐观的自我形象，尽管认知和行为数据表明他们的应对方式在心理上是不健康的。此外，有人认为压抑应对方式文献中的许多发现可以仅通过焦虑或社会期望的主效应进行简约解释（即，无需引入一个将两者结合的构念）。
