Therapy That 'Rewrites' Childhood Memories Can Ease Fear of Failure, Trial Finds

Imagery-based psychotherapy techniques that help people "rewrite" painful childhood memories can meaningfully ease a lasting fear of failure, according to a randomized controlled trial from researchers at SWPS University and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology in Poland, published in Frontiers in Psychology.

The trial included 180 young adults aged 18 to 35 who experienced fear of failure linked to childhood experiences of criticism. Over two weeks, participants took part in four therapy sessions using one of three techniques: recalling situations that triggered fear or anxiety; a technique called Imagery Rescripting, in which participants imagined a "defender" entering the remembered scene to confront the person delivering criticism and support the child; or the same rescripting technique combined with a 10-minute delay designed to interfere with the memory trace.

All three approaches produced a significant and lasting reduction in fear of failure, along with lower reported sadness and guilt and reduced physiological stress reactions when recalling memories of criticism. The improvements held at three- and six-month follow-ups. "The study shows that it is possible to reduce the intensity of negative emotions and arousal associated with memories of childhood criticism," said co-author Julia Bączek, a psychologist at SWPS University's Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience.

The researchers found imagery rescripting worked especially well when it produced a moment of surprise, which they linked to "prediction error," a mismatch between what someone expects and what actually happens. "It is this surprise that paves the way for a lasting therapeutic change," said co-author Stanisław Karkosz, a cognitive scientist at the same laboratory.