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Related Experiment Videos

Thought suppression.

R M Wenzlaff1, D M Wegner

  • 1Division of Behavioral and Cultural Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio 78249-0652, USA. rwenzlaff@utsa.edu

Annual Review of Psychology
|February 7, 2001
PubMed
Summary
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Trying to suppress unwanted thoughts can paradoxically make them stronger. This review explores research on thought suppression across various psychological domains, highlighting its counterproductive effects and future research directions.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Mental Health

Background:

  • Thought suppression is a common mental control strategy.
  • Research suggests suppression can be counterproductive, leading to the opposite of the desired mental state.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing research on thought suppression.
  • To examine the counterproductive effects of suppressing thoughts.
  • To identify methodological and theoretical issues and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on thought suppression.
  • Analysis of research across diverse psychological domains.

Main Results:

  • Thought suppression is often ineffective and can exacerbate the target thoughts or feelings.

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  • The effects of suppression are observed in various areas, including emotions, memory, and interpersonal interactions.

    • Conclusions:

    • Thought suppression can be a maladaptive coping mechanism.
    • Further research is needed to understand the nuances of thought suppression and develop effective alternatives.