Cognitive Components of Blocking

Abstract

Sixty subjects, 40 of them blockers, provided over 5000 examples of self-talk accompanying the initiation and completion of writing sessions. An inductive procedure of sorting those thought-list cards into reliable and discrete categories produced 7 cognitive components of blocking (listed in descending order of importance): (1) work apprehension, (2) procrastination, (3) dysphoria, (4) impatience, (5) perfectionism, (6) evaluation anxiety, and (7) rules. Blockers were more likely than nonblockers to list negative thoughts and less likely to evidence “psych-up” thoughts during writing sessions.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1985-01-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088385002001006
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (6)

  1. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  2. Computers and Composition
  3. Written Communication
  4. Written Communication
  5. Written Communication
Show all 6 →
  1. Written Communication

References (52) · 4 in this index

  1. Conceptual blockbusting
  2. Advances in cognitive behavioral research
  3. Cognitive therapy of depression
  4. Written Communication
  5. The writer and psychoanalysis
Show all 52 →
  1. 10.1016/0005-7967(82)90138-3
  2. 10.1037/0033-2909.93.1.3
  3. American Psychological Association
  4. College Composition and Communication
  5. Behavior Therapist
  6. Becoming a writer
  7. Cognitive assessment
  8. Therapy and the arts
  9. And I worked at the writer's trade
  10. Writing blocks
  11. Research in the Teaching of English
  12. 10.1300/J075v02n03_07
  13. Writing without teachers
  14. 10.2307/375768
  15. Written Communication
  16. Writing: Process, Development, and Communication
  17. Type A behavior and your heart
  18. Visible Language
  19. Complex
  20. 10.1177/001872678303601102
  21. The artist in society: Problems and treatment of the creative personality
  22. 10.1002/j.2164-4918.1981.tb00655.x
  23. 10.1177/036215377500500422
  24. 10.1016/0090-9092(79)90051-6
  25. International Science & Technology
  26. 10.2307/356889
  27. The writer's mind
  28. Overcoming writing blocks
  29. Handbook for psychotherapy and behavior change
  30. Self-Control
  31. Journal of the American Society of Psychosomatic Dentistry and Medicine
  32. American Journal of Occupational Therapy
  33. 10.1177/036215377700700117
  34. 10.1016/0005-7916(76)90020-3
  35. 10.1007/BF02111484
  36. The new diary
  37. Writing the natural way: Using right-brain techniques to release your expressive powers
  38. College Composition and Communication
  39. 10.1017/S0141347300008235
  40. Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy
  41. 10.1037/h0074372
  42. 10.1080/00332747.1961.11023275
  43. Writing: Process, development and communication
  44. Understanding the manuscript review process: Increasing the participation of women
  45. RIE Report
  46. Errors and expectations
  47. Working it out