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Related Experiment Videos

Suppressing thoughts about chocolate.

L Johnston1, C M Bulik, V Anstiss

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. psyc380@psyc.canterbury.ac.nz

The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|June 1, 1999
PubMed
Summary
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Trying to suppress thoughts about chocolate actually increases chocolate-related behaviors. This ironic effect of mental control suggests behavioral outcomes may mirror cognitive ones.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Thought suppression often leads to the unwanted hyperaccessibility of the suppressed thoughts.
  • The 'ironic process theory' describes how attempting to suppress thoughts can paradoxically make them more prominent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the hyperaccessibility effect of thought suppression extends to observable behaviors.
  • To determine if suppressing thoughts about a specific craving (chocolate) influences related behavioral performance.

Main Methods:

  • Participants (chocolate cravers and non-cravers) were instructed to either suppress chocolate-related thoughts or not.
  • Behavioral performance was measured using a computer-based task where participants could earn chocolate rewards.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants in both groups successfully suppressed chocolate-related thoughts when instructed.
  • Both chocolate cravers and non-cravers demonstrated increased performance and earned more chocolate rewards in the thought suppression condition compared to the control condition.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral control, like mental control, may be subject to ironic effects.
  • Efforts to suppress specific thoughts can inadvertently enhance the performance of associated behaviors.