Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Wu, Kevin D.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Clinical psychology; Compulsive hoarding--Psychology--Research; Hoarders--Psychological aspects--Research; Memory--Physiological aspects--Research

Abstract

Poor confidence in memory has demonstrated associations with hoarding symptoms but no study has examined the direction of this relationship using an experimental procedure. The current study addresses a gap in the literature by testing the hypothesis that poor confidence in memory causes difficulty discarding possessions during a behavioral hoarding task. Additionally, perfectionism is examined as a potential moderator of the relationship between confidence in memory and difficulty discarding. Consistent with prior research, support was found for a relationship between confidence in memory and hoarding symptoms; however, no support was found for a causal relationship between confidence in memory and difficulty discarding. Furthermore, perfectionism did not moderate the relationship between confidence in memory and difficulty discarding. Findings are interpreted in the context of the cognitive-behavioral model of hoarding and the statistical and methodological limitations of the current study. Next, practical and theoretical implications of study findings are discussed. Finally, suggestions for future research on hoarding, metamemory, and related constructs are outlined.

Comments

Advisors: Kevin D. Wu.||Committee members: Michelle Lilly; David Valentiner.

Extent

132 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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