Multidimensional Embodiment (ME), an Effective Technique to Cope With Emotional Problems: A Cross-Cultural Investigation

Abstract

We introduce multidimensional embodiment (ME), a technique for reducing the negativity of unpleasant memories. ME originated in clinical settings. We ran experiments in Mexico and Germany. Participants imagined that a severe aversive episode they experienced had putative physical dimensions and rated their intensity for 8 consecutive days. We found: (a) reductions in reported negativity of the episode across sessions; (b) greater reductions with more over fewer dimensions; and (c) long-term effects in a follow-up session (Experiment 1). The second experiment replicated and extended these findings. It comprised a no-treatment control group; measures of controllability, which increased across sessions and groups; and of blood pressure, whose systolic component decreased for the six-dimension group. Between-country differences showed ratings decreasing comparably, with higher scores in Mexico. We interpret these results according to both personality systems interaction (PSI) theory and the alternative retrieval pathways (ARP) hypothesis: As more retrieval pathways produce better memory, activating more dimensions yields greater reductions in unpleasantness.