Therapy That ‘Rewrites’ Painful Childhood Memories May Reduce Fear of Failure

A form of imagery-based psychotherapy that helps people mentally rewrite painful childhood memories can significantly reduce fear of failure in young adults, according to new research from SWPS University and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology. The peer-reviewed study appears in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

Scientists report that experiences of harsh criticism and emotional neglect in childhood can shape how people respond to mistakes for many years. When a child repeatedly learns that errors bring shame or rejection, those patterns may later crystallize into a chronic fear of failure that undermines performance and well-being.

How the clinical trial was designed

The research team conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 180 adults aged 18 to 35 who reported a pronounced fear of failure linked to memories of childhood criticism. Over two weeks, each participant attended four short therapy sessions focused on those distressing early experiences.

Volunteers were assigned to one of three imagery-based approaches. All methods asked them to recall specific situations where they had been criticized as children, then work with those memories in a structured way under professional guidance.

One group received Imagery Exposure, an active control condition. These participants repeatedly revisited the painful scenes in detail, allowing the associated anxiety and shame to surface while they remained safely in the present, a standard technique used to reduce emotional reactivity over time.

The second group received Imagery Rescripting, a more intensive intervention that asked participants to mentally change the course of the remembered event. In this technique, they imagined a supportive figure entering the scene, confronting the critical adult and protecting the child from unfair treatment.

A third group followed the same rescripting procedure, but with a 10-minute delay inserted before the new, positive ending was imagined. Researchers designed this delayed-stimulus reconsolidation step to interfere with the brain’s usual way of stabilizing memories, with the aim of further weakening the emotional grip of the original criticism.

Lasting reductions in fear and stress

Participants completed standardized questionnaires and clinical interviews before treatment, immediately afterward, and again at three- and six-month follow-ups. Researchers also tracked physiological indicators, such as stress-related bodily reactions, while participants recalled their childhood memories.

Across all three groups, fear of failure dropped significantly and remained lower months after the sessions ended. Volunteers also reported a reduction in other negative emotions, including guilt, sadness and anxiety, when thinking about past criticism or current challenges.

Physiological responses told a similar story. As treatment progressed, the body’s arousal patterns during memory recall diminished, suggesting that revisiting the events no longer triggered the same intensity of stress. Those calmer reactions were still evident at the later follow-up points.

Study co-author and psychologist Julia Bączek said the results show that carefully chosen imagery techniques can reduce both the emotional intensity and physical arousal tied to early experiences of harsh criticism. According to her, making these memories feel less burdensome is key to helping people engage with everyday tasks without an overwhelming fear of failure.

Why surprise may drive change

The researchers also examined why some participants improved more than others. They found that imagery rescripting was particularly effective when the revised memory included a powerful moment of surprise, such as an unexpectedly strong defense of the child or a dramatic challenge to the critical adult.

They linked this effect to the concept of prediction error, a mechanism widely studied in neuroscience. Prediction error arises when what happens in a situation does not match what the brain has learned to expect, creating an opening for old emotional patterns to be updated or replaced.

Cognitive scientist and co-author Stanisław Karkosz explained that the crucial element is the mismatch between the anticipated criticism and the newly imagined, supportive response. In his view, this surprising shift can help the brain loosen deeply rooted associations between mistakes and humiliation, making room for new, healthier responses.

The delayed-rescripting variant was intended to boost this mechanism by intervening during the memory reconsolidation window, when fresh recollections are briefly malleable. While all groups improved, the findings suggest that carefully timed interventions that harness prediction error may offer an especially promising route for future therapies.

Implications for therapy and everyday life

The study adds to a growing body of evidence that emotionally charged memories are not fixed and can be reprocessed in safer, more compassionate ways. Rather than erasing the past, imagery rescripting helps people retain the facts of what happened while changing the emotional meaning and sense of self-worth attached to those events.

For individuals who struggle with fear of failure, this can translate into greater willingness to take on challenges, apply for demanding roles or tolerate mistakes in learning. By weakening the link between error and rejection, the therapy may support healthier motivation and resilience in academic, professional and personal settings.

Experts note that these findings are preliminary and focused on a specific age group and type of memory. Larger studies involving more diverse participants and long-term follow-up will be needed to confirm how widely the approach can be applied and to refine treatment protocols.

Nonetheless, the research highlights a hopeful message: memories of childhood criticism do not have to dictate emotional reactions for life. With structured psychological support, many people may be able to mentally “rewrite” their early experiences in ways that reduce fear, foster self-compassion and open space for growth.