The effects of HIV-related thought suppression on risk behavior: cognitive escape in men who have sex with men
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

A Restriction Enzyme Based Cloning Method to Assess the In vitro Replication Capacity of HIV-1 Subtype C Gag-MJ4 Chimeric Viruses
Published on: August 31, 2014
Michael A Hoyt1, Carol J Nemeroff, David M Huebner
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA. mhoyt4@asu.edu
Abstract:
This study investigated the relationship between suppressing thoughts about HIV risk and several outcomes related to HIV risk, including sexual risk behavior and HIV prevention service use, in men who have sex with men (MSM). Synthesizing the ironic processing theory (D. M. Wegner, 1994) with a cognitive escape paradigm (D. J. McKiman, D. G. Ostrow, & B. Hope, 1996), it was hypothesized that thought suppression might increase risk by leading MSM to "escape" from sexual safety norms and engage in risky sex behaviors and, via a paradoxical process, increase future use of community prevention services. Results from a sample of MSM (N = 709) indicated that thought suppression was positively related to concurrent sexual risk behavior and to future use of prevention services.
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
The Influence of Cognition on Affect
Amebiasis

