Investigating The Induced Effect of The Emotions of Shame and Guilt on working Memory Performance

Introduction: The relationship between cognition and emotion has always been of interest for researchers. Although each area is considered to be separate, but they interact with each other. Purpose: Therefore, this study aims to investigate the induced impact of the emotions of shame and guilt on working memory performance. Methods: This study was quasi-experimental in which pretest-posttest design has been used. The population in this study includes all the female college students at Azerbaijan Shahid Madani University in 2014-2015 academic year. Firstly, 100 students between 19-23age groups were selected by convenient sampling to complete demographic questionnaire and to do the dual paper-pencil task for the evaluation of the working memory performance. Then , a group of 96 students was matched in three groups of the emotion of shame (N = 32), emotion of guilt (N = 32) and neutral group (N = 32) based on age and working memory performance. Afterwards, participants were asked to carry out the task of recalling emotional memories and dual paper-and-pencil task. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, the descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance. Results: The results obtained through the use of covariance method showed that after modifying the pre-test scores, the emotions of shame and guilt significantly affected the individual`s working memory(F= 4/95، p<0/01). Conclusion: Based on these Results, we can conclude that emotions affect working memory performance, and exposure to negative emotional memories (shame and guilt) interfere with working memory.