Metacognition, Executive Functions and Anxiety: Towards an Integrated Approach to Complete Wells Anxiety Model

Inrtodaction: Although many studies have supported the model proposed by Wells in metacognition, it seems that this model is unable to explain some of the ambiguities were raised in the discussion of individual differences in personality study or cognitive failures. The present study examined metacognitive processing to highlight role of executive functions in high anxiety and low anxiety individuals, then proposed model for the complete Wells pattern about the relationship between metacognition and anxiety. 200 female students in Tarbiat Modares University completed the Metacognition Questionnaire, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire and Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The purpose of MCQ-30 and CFQ were to control the inclusion criteria. Then according to extreme scores in extraversion and neuroticism dimensions of EPQ-R, two groups (each group 15 subjects) including high anxiety and low anxiety were selected. Finally, the Stroop test and the Wisconsin card sorting test completed. Results showed that metacognitive processing in low anxiety was better thanhigh anxiety. It seems that the model proposed in this study is able to answer the questions on metacognition that Wells model is unable to explain them. Although the strength of this model is the need for more research measures.