Summary: Childhood memories of harsh criticism or neglect often manifest in adulthood as a paralyzing fear of failure. However, a new clinical trial reveals that we can “rewrite” these internal narratives.
Using a technique called Imagery Rescripting (ImRs), participants revisited painful memories and imagined a “defender”—such as a therapist—intervening to support their younger selves. The study found that this mental intervention significantly and sustainably reduced negative emotions, lowered physiological stress levels, and weakened the fear of failure for at least six months.
Key Facts
- Imagery Rescripting (ImRs): This technique goes beyond simple recall; it involves actively changing the memory’s narrative to include a supportive figure who confronts the original “critic.”
- Sustained Emotional Relief: Participants reported lasting reductions in sadness, guilt, and fear of failure, with improvements holding steady during follow-ups at three and six months.
- Physiological Dampening: The study measured physical stress responses and found that after therapy, recalling the critical memories no longer triggered intense bodily stress.
- The Power of Surprise: The intervention was most effective when it created a “prediction error”—a moment of surprise where the imagined positive outcome contradicted the expected negative memory.
- Disrupting the Trace: A variation of the technique used a 10-minute delay (ImRs-DSR) to intentionally disrupt the memory trace, further enhancing the therapeutic impact.
Source: SWPS
Adverse childhood experiences, such as criticism, neglect, or harsh responses from caregivers, may have a long-term impact on psychological well-being and quality of life in adulthood.
The way caregivers respond to a child’s failures may play a key role in shaping later emotional and cognitive patterns. A possible consequence is fear of failure, based on the belief that making mistakes leads to being perceived as less worthy.
A team of scientists from the Poznań-based Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychology, SWPS University, and the Laboratory of Brain Imaging at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology in Warsaw investigated whether the impact of these negative memories on daily functioning can be effectively and sustainably reduced through imagery-based techniques in psychotherapy.
Does working with memories offer the possibility of lasting change?
180 young adults (between 18 and 35 years of age) experiencing fear of failure were recruited for a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Over the course of two weeks, participants completed four therapy sessions during which they worked with painful childhood memories related to criticism.
Some participants were subjected to Imagery Exposure (IE) technique, during which they were instructed to simply recall situations that evoked fear or anxiety (the active control group). The second group was administered the Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) technique, which alters the narrative of memories.
This method involves recalling a distressing situation and then imagining a “defender” (e.g., a therapist) appearing there to confront the critic and support the child. The third group used the same therapeutic technique, but with a 10-minute delay procedure (ImRs-DSR), which was intended to disrupt the memory trace of the critical memory, enhancing the impact of the intervention.
Study participants completed questionnaires and participated in interviews. Their physiological parameters were also measured. Follow-up observations were conducted after three and six months.
Rescripting memories really works
It turned out that all the imagery-based techniques used in the study led to a significant and lasting reduction in fear of failure, and a reduction in negative emotions such as sadness and guilt. Physiological reactivity to memories associated with criticism also decreased, meaning that participants no longer reacted with intense stress when recalling distressing situations.
This improvement was consistently sustained at follow-ups three and six months after the session, demonstrating that the psychological change was stable.
“The study shows that it is possible to reduce the intensity of negative emotions and arousal associated with memories of childhood criticism. Properly selected techniques can influence how these memories are experienced, making them less burdensome,” says study co-author Julia Bączek, a psychologist from the Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychology, SWPS University.
The imagery rescripting technique was most effective when participants experienced a moment of surprise. This was due to the prediction error, which is the emergence of a discrepancy between expectations and the actual events experienced. This promotes the replacement of old, painful patterns.
“We have shown that a crucial part of imagery-based therapy is creating a discrepancy between what the patient expects and what actually happens in the new memory. It is this surprise that paves the way for a lasting therapeutic change,” says study co-author Stanisław Karkosz, a cognitive scientist from the Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychology, SWPS University.
Past experiences do not have to rule us
The researchers demonstrate that by appropriately using imagery-based techniques, in which we “write” new, safe endings to old stories, we can actually change our response to today’s challenges.
The results suggest that the way we experience difficult memories (including those related to failure) can change. This means that past experiences do not have to be emotionally processed in a fixed, unchanging way, Julia Bączek emphasises.
Key Questions Answered:
A: Not at all. Imagery Rescripting doesn’t erase the fact that a negative event happened; instead, it changes the emotional meaning and the power that memory holds over you. It’s about updating your brain’s “file” on that event so it no longer triggers a fight-or-flight response in your daily life.
A: When we are children, we lack the tools to defend ourselves against harsh criticism. By imagining a defender (like your adult self or a therapist) stepping in, you provide the “emotional closure” your younger self never received. This breaks the pattern that says “failure makes me worthless.”
A: While the study was conducted under clinical supervision, these techniques are a core part of modern Schema Therapy. The research highlights that the element of surprise—where the intervention does something your brain doesn’t expect—is what really drives the biological change in the memory.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
- Journal paper reviewed in full.
- Additional context added by our staff.
About this psychology research news
Author: Marta Danowska-Kisiel
Source: SWPS
Contact: Marta Danowska-Kisiel – SWPS
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Imagine yourself as a little girl…—efficacy and psychophysiology of imagery techniques targeting adverse autobiographical childhood experiences- multi-arm randomised controlled trial” by Julia Bączek, Stanisław Karkosz, Magdalena Pietruch, Robert Szymański, and Jarosław M. Michałowski. Frontiers in Psychology
DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1710963
Abstract
Fear of failure is often rooted in highly self-critical autobiographical memories that elicit persistent distress and avoidance. Imagery-based interventions aim to reduce the impact of such memories, yet their mechanisms of action remain unclear.
In this three-arm parallel group randomised controlled trial, 180 young adults with elevated fear of failure were randomly assigned to imagery exposure, standard imagery rescripting, or imagery rescripting with a 10-min delay designed to disrupt memory reconsolidation.
Across four sessions delivered over 2 weeks, outcomes were assessed using self-report measures and physiological markers, with follow-ups at 3 and 6 months. All interventions led to significant and sustained reductions in negative emotions, arousal, and fear of failure, as well as decreased physiological reactivity to autobiographical memories of criticism.
Contrary to predictions, delayed rescripting did not show superiority, while planned contrasts suggested more consistent benefits of standard rescripting compared to delayed rescripting and a rebound effect after exposure.
Notably, prediction error, operationalised as transient increases in physiological arousal during rescripting, predicted stronger therapeutic change in rescripting but not in exposure.
These findings demonstrate that both common therapeutic factors and prediction error contribute to durable improvements in emotional responses to adverse memories, advancing the understanding of mechanisms underlying imagery-based techniques.
