Hysterical style and impressionistic cognition. The hysterical style derives from strong tendencies to repress disturbing ideas, to be subject to emotional lability, and to favor concrete stimulus-bound approaches to problem solving (Smokler & Shevrin, 1979). A hallmark of hysterical style is impressionistic cognition, which is global, relatively immediate but diffuse, and lacking in sharpness and detail. This type of cognitive experience is marked not by sharply observed facts and carefully developed judgments, but by quick hunches and impressions (Shapiro, 1965)