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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

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

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

Published on: May 19, 2015

Setting free the bears: escape from thought suppression.

Daniel M Wegner¹

¹Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland Street, WJH 1470, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. wegner@wjh.harvard.edu

The American Psychologist

|November 16, 2011

Summary

Trying to suppress unwanted thoughts, like not thinking of a white bear, is often ineffective. This research explores indirect techniques such as mindfulness and acceptance for managing intrusive thoughts.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Cognitive Science

Background:

The 'white bear' effect demonstrates the difficulty of thought suppression.
Unwanted thoughts are a common human experience, impacting mental well-being.

Discussion:

This article reviews indirect thought suppression strategies and therapies.
Techniques explored include focused distraction, stress management, thought postponement, exposure, acceptance and commitment, meditation, mindfulness, focused breathing, attention training, self-affirmation, hypnosis, and disclosure/writing.

Key Insights:

Many effective strategies involve acknowledging and accepting unwanted thoughts rather than direct suppression.
Indirect methods offer potential for managing intrusive thoughts across various contexts.

Outlook:

Further research into the efficacy of these indirect techniques is warranted.
These strategies may provide novel therapeutic avenues for individuals struggling with persistent unwanted thoughts.