PSYC 333 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Thought Suppression, Word Association, Chocolate Cake
Document Summary
In order to achieve the things that we want to achieve. Mental control: efforts to control our internal world. E. g. , don"t think about chocolate cake, cigarettes, casino, etc. Mental control is an ironic process because attempting to suppress thoughts will lead to subsequently think about what you are trying to suppress, making the suppression more difficult to achieve. Attempts to suppress thoughts results in subsequent rebound of those thoughts (e. g. , dieting often causes subsequent overeating) The thought that is being repressed become hyperaccessible because you are trying to suppress it. Stream of consciousness task: verbalize thoughts for next 5 minutes. Ring bell every time you think or talk about white bear . Then, try to think about white bear (and ring bell, etc. ) Expression 1st condition (control) got instruction in reverse order. The act of engaging in thought suppression actually renders the thought hyperaccessible. The participants are distracting themselves more often than not without something to focus on.
