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Comparing thought suppression and mindfulness as coping techniques for spider fear
Nic Hooper1, Nathan Davies, Laura Davies
1Department of Psychology, Centre for Research on Social Climate, University of Kent, UK. N.J.Hooper@Kent.ac.uk
Consciousness and Cognition
|June 11, 2011
Summary
Mindfulness (focused attention) effectively reduced spider fear, enabling participants to approach spiders more closely. Thought suppression and unfocused attention were less effective and increased anxiety during the spider fear management study.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Phobia Management
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Specific phobias, like arachnophobia, significantly impact quality of life.
- Cognitive strategies are explored for managing fear and avoidance behaviors.
- Thought suppression and attention control are potential, yet understudied, interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of thought suppression, focused attention (mindfulness), and unfocused attention in managing spider fear.
- To assess the impact of these strategies on approach behavior towards a feared stimulus (spider).
Main Methods:
- Participants with spider fear underwent strategy induction (thought suppression, focused attention, or unfocused attention).
- Following induction, participants completed a 10-step Behavioural Approach Test (BAT) towards a spider.
- Anxiety levels were measured post-BAT.
Main Results:
- Focused attention (mindfulness) led to significantly more steps completed in the BAT compared to thought suppression or unfocused attention.
- Thought suppression and unfocused attention groups advanced significantly fewer steps towards the spider.
- The thought suppression group reported significantly higher anxiety levels after the BAT.
Conclusions:
- Focused attention (mindfulness) is a superior strategy for reducing avoidance behavior in spider phobia.
- Thought suppression may exacerbate anxiety and hinder fear reduction in phobic individuals.
- Attention regulation strategies significantly influence the management of specific phobias.
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