A Therapy That ‘Rewrites’ Childhood Memories May Reduce Fear of Failure, Study Finds
Psychologists in Poland report that guided imagery techniques that effectively “rewrite” distressing childhood memories can ease fear of failure and other negative emotions in adults. The randomized controlled study was conducted by researchers at SWPS University and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology and published in Frontiers in Psychology.
The researchers focused on how early experiences of harsh criticism from caregivers can leave a lasting imprint on self-worth and emotional reactions. When children are repeatedly shamed or punished for making mistakes, they may grow into adults who interpret every error as evidence that they are unworthy or destined to fail.
How the clinical trial was designed
The trial involved 180 adults aged 18 to 35 who reported a pronounced fear of failure connected to memories of childhood criticism. Over two weeks, each participant attended four structured sessions centered on one or more painful early experiences involving being judged or blamed.
All three intervention groups used mental imagery, but in different ways. The active control group practiced Imagery Exposure, repeatedly revisiting distressing scenes in detail while describing the thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations triggered by those memories.
The second group received Imagery Rescripting, a technique in which participants first relived the original memory and then introduced a supportive “defender” figure into the scene. This imagined person, often resembling a therapist or protective adult, intervened, confronted the critic and comforted the participant’s childhood self.
A third group underwent an adapted technique called Imagery Rescripting with a Delay and Selective Reminding. In this version, researchers introduced a 10-minute delay before the memory was transformed, with the aim of interfering with the original memory trace and potentially strengthening the new, healthier narrative.
Lasting drop in fear and guilt
Across all three groups, fear of failure decreased significantly and remained lower at both the three- and six-month follow-ups. Participants also reported less sadness, guilt and other negative emotions associated with the original experiences of criticism, suggesting broader emotional benefits.
Physiological indicators, including bodily arousal during memory recall, also changed. When participants later brought the critical experiences back to mind, their stress responses were milder, suggesting that the memories no longer triggered the same intensity of anxiety or shame.
Study co-author Julia Bączek, a psychologist at SWPS University’s Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience, noted that carefully selected imagery techniques can weaken the emotional charge associated with old experiences. She emphasized that childhood memories do not necessarily have to remain permanently painful in the same way.
Why surprise may boost the effect
One of the key findings involved what researchers call prediction error — the difference between what a person expects and what actually happens. Imagery rescripting appeared particularly powerful when it introduced an element of surprise into the reimagined experience.
When revisiting a painful memory, participants might expect criticism or rejection to occur again. Instead, the imagined “defender” stood up for them, changed the outcome of the confrontation or provided warmth and validation. This unexpected shift appeared to help loosen rigid emotional patterns associated with the original experience.
Co-author Stanisław Karkosz, a cognitive scientist at the same laboratory, explained that this discrepancy can help the brain update deeply established beliefs about self-worth and safety. The element of surprise may make it easier for older, harmful expectations to be replaced by gentler and more realistic ones.
Implications for therapy and everyday life
The results add to growing evidence that targeted memory-focused therapies can reshape how people respond to criticism, setbacks and perceived failure in their current lives. By revisiting early experiences and introducing new, protective endings, people may gradually learn to relate to themselves with less fear and self-blame.
Although the study was limited to young adults and focused on memories of criticism rather than more severe trauma, the researchers suggest that similar approaches might help people whose work, academic performance or relationships are constrained by a persistent fear of making mistakes. Further research is needed to test the techniques in clinical populations and within longer therapy programs.
For now, the findings suggest that emotionally charged childhood experiences do not necessarily function as fixed scripts throughout adulthood. With structured guidance, it may be possible to “rewrite” their emotional meaning and reduce the burden of fear of failure that can follow people long after childhood.
