The Effect Of Test Anxiety On Directed Forgetting

Freud’s "repression theory" suggests that memories can be actively forgotten.Active forgetting is an important function of the individual,which can help the individual to better adapt to life by clearing away painful memories that he or she wants to forget.Previous research has shown that inhibitory control training for depressed individuals can enhance the effect of active forgetting on negative emotional material.So,whether people can actively forget information related to test anxiety and whether individuals with high test anxiety have more difficulty actively forgetting information related to test anxiety are questions that have not been studied accordingly.In this study,57 junior high school students were selected as the study sample,and a mixed experimental design of 2(instruction:remember,forget)× 2(wordiness:neutral words,test anxiety-related words)× 2(groups:high test anxiety group,low test anxiety group)was conducted using the directed forgetting paradigm of active forgetting,with words as the experimental material,to investigate the effects of test anxiety on the directed forgetting ability of junior high school students.The following results were obtained from the experimental study:(1)Both neutral words and test anxiety-related words can produce an orienting forgetting effect,and the active forgetting operation can indeed reduce the frequency of test anxiety-related information breaking into the minds of junior high school students.(2)There was a separation on active forgetting of test anxiety-related words and neutral words by individual middle school students.Compared to test anxiety memories,junior high school individuals prefer to remember positive and good events that do not produce negative emotions.Once entered into the mind,test anxiety memories are less likely to be forgotten than neutral stimuli.(3)There was no difference in the directed forgetting ability between individuals with high test anxiety and individuals with low test anxiety.Conclusions:(1)Both neutral and test-anxiety-related words can produce an orienting forgetting effect.(2)There is no difference in the orienting forgetting ability between individuals with high test anxiety and individuals with low test anxiety.Recommendations:(1)Conduct active inhibition training.(2)Reduce the appearance of negative information and create a favorable external learning atmosphere.