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Related Concept Videos

Repressed Memory01:16

Repressed Memory

Repressed memories are a psychological phenomenon where memories of traumatic events are unconsciously blocked from a person's awareness. This process occurs as a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from the emotional impact of distressing or painful experiences. For example, a person who has experienced childhood trauma may grow up with no conscious recollection of the event. In such cases, the memories are thought to be buried deep within the subconscious, inaccessible to the conscious...
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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
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Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
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Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
Cognitive Dissonance01:38

Cognitive Dissonance

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
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Subconsciousness and No Awareness

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
08:42

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Published on: May 19, 2015

Thought suppression failures in combat PTSD: a cognitive load hypothesis.

Deane E Aikins1, Douglas C Johnson, Jessica L Borelli

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. deane.aikins@yale.edu

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|July 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience more intrusive combat thoughts and difficulty suppressing neutral thoughts. This suggests increased cognitive load may contribute to PTSD symptoms.

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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

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Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
10:43

Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity

Published on: July 1, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Military Mental Health

Background:

  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition often affecting combat veterans.
  • Thought suppression is a cognitive process that can be challenging, especially under stress.
  • Understanding cognitive load in PTSD is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between suppressing neutral thoughts, intrusive traumatic thoughts, and physiological responses in combat veterans with PTSD.
  • To compare these processes across different groups: PTSD, Combat Equivalent, and Pre-Deployed service members.

Main Methods:

  • Participants engaged in a thought suppression task involving neutral content (the "white bear" paradigm).
  • Researchers measured incidental traumatic thought intrusion and skin conductance responses (SCRs) as indicators of sympathetic nervous system activity.
  • Three groups were studied: service members with PTSD, combat-exposed service members without psychiatric diagnoses, and pre-deployed service members without psychiatric diagnoses.

Main Results:

  • Service members with PTSD reported significantly more intrusive combat thoughts during the suppression task.
  • A rebound effect was observed in the PTSD group, with neutral thoughts becoming more intrusive after suppression.
  • Skin conductance responses indicated increased sympathetic activity during suppression for PTSD and Pre-Deployed groups, but not for the Combat Equivalent group.

Conclusions:

  • Failure to suppress neutral thoughts, coupled with intrusive traumatic thoughts, may be linked to heightened cognitive load in PTSD.
  • Cognitive load and thought suppression deficits could be important factors in the psychopathology of PTSD.
  • Findings highlight the complex interplay between cognitive control, intrusive thoughts, and physiological arousal in PTSD.