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Effects of suppressing thoughts about emotional material
1Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802-3104.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Suppressing anxious thoughts does not eliminate them; instead, it can lead to increased rumination later. Expressing thoughts initially promotes habituation, reducing their occurrence over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Emotional Regulation
Background:
- Understanding the cognitive and emotional consequences of thought suppression is crucial for mental health.
- Previous research suggests suppression may paradoxically increase thought frequency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concurrent and subsequent effects of suppressing versus expressing emotional and neutral material.
- To examine how initial thought manipulation influences subsequent thought content.
Main Methods:
- Participants either suppressed or expressed thoughts about anxious, depressing, or neutral situations.
- Following an initial period, all participants expressed thoughts about the same situation.
- Thought content was analyzed for frequency and thematic variations.
Main Results:
- Thought suppression did not eliminate the target thought's occurrence.
- Initial thought expression led to habituation and decreased thought frequency.
- Initial thought suppression resulted in increased thought frequency during subsequent expression.
Conclusions:
- Suppressing emotional or neutral thoughts can lead to increased intrusive thoughts.
- Expressing thoughts facilitates habituation and reduces cognitive load.
- Emotional valence influences the effectiveness of suppression and expression strategies.
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