Post-event processing (PEP) is the rumination that people with social anxiety do for hours or days after a social situation, reviewing what they said, did, or appeared to be, seeking confirmation of the negative self-image ("they saw I blushed"). Rachman et al. showed that PEP maintains the phobia even if the original situation was neutral. It has three phases: (1) detailed review of the situation, (2) negative judgment on the self-image, (3) avoidance or safety plans for the next time.
Concept origin
Rachman S, Graser-Impelić A, Radomsky AS. (1995). Predicting the occurrence of panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. (Derived line in Heimberg 1995 (Wells 1997 chapter no verifiable DOI)). The PEP model was formalized in Clark & Wells 1995.
How it manifests
- ▸ Repetitive review of the conversation/social for hours
- ▸ Selective memory of the negative moments (not the neutral ones)
- ▸ Catastrophization ("everyone noticed I trembled")
Therapeutic approach
Working on PEP requires three steps: (1) identify the actual content of the PEP (what you believe they saw), (2) behavioral experiment with video feedback to show the discrepancy between self-image and reality, (3) post-event re-attribution: write down the event, what they actually said, what real probabilities there are of negative judgment. Also mindfulness to "let go" of PEP when it starts.
Related concepts
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