Publication Date
2013-07-31
Availability
Open access
Embargo Period
2013-07-31
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Department
Psychology (Arts and Sciences)
Date of Defense
2013-06-25
First Committee Member
Debra Lieberman
Second Committee Member
Michael McCullough
Third Committee Member
Kiara Timpano
Fourth Committee Member
Rick Stuetzle
Fifth Committee Member
William Searcy
Abstract
Three studies were conducted to examine the possibility that the expression of obsessive-compulsive (OC) washing and checking symptoms reflect impairments in cognitive mechanisms underlying adaptations for disease avoidance and physical harm avoidance, respectively. Studies provided initial evidence that specialized attention, memory and reasoning processes exist depending on whether adaptations for disease avoidance or physical harm avoidance are activated. The data provided no support for the hypothesis that individuals expressing OC contamination and physical harm concerns evince concern-related attention, memory, and reasoning biases.
Keywords
OCD; adaptation; attention; memory; reasoning
Recommended Citation
Aylward, Alison G., "OC Washing and Checking: Examining the Selective Impairments in Evolved Disease Avoidance and Safety Management Mechanisms" (2013). Open Access Dissertations. 1068.
https://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_dissertations/1068