Thought Supression
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The attempt to avoid thinking about something we would just as soon forget is called thought suppression such as a lost love, an unpleasant encounter with one’s boss, or a delectable piece of cheesecake in the refrigerator (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2007). Suppression of an unwanted thought not only produces immediate enhancement (of the specific thought) but also results in a higher frequency of this thought later on (Geraerts & Mc Nally, 2007). Compared to never-depressed people, at risk-individuals report higher levels of chronic thought suppression and expand more effort trying to maintain a positive frame of mind (Smith & Hertel, 2002).
According to research, thought suppression consists of two mechanisms: an intentional distraction process that diverts attention away from unwanted thoughts; and a monitoring system that remains vigilant for intrusions that call for renewed distraction (Smith & Hertel, 2002). The monitoring system identifies the increase in target thoughts following the suppression task, creating the rebound effect (which is when one can fall into a great deal of depression) (Aikins, Johnson & Borelli, 2009). Preliminary studies of thoughts suppression indicate rebound-related effects with trauma target thoughts (Aikins, Johnson & Borelli, 2009). In this regard, thinking about the trauma in close proximity to a non-trauma suppression task may decrease access to non-trauma thoughts that results in an absence of a rebound effect (Aikins, Johnson & Borelli, 2009). At one level then, the distraction and monitoring processes are complementary, helping assure that unwanted thoughts are relegated to the fringes of consciousness (Smith & Hertel, 2002). At another level, however, the monitoring system can undermine the goal of suppression by maintaining vigilance for the very thoughts that have been targeted for elimination (Smith & Hertel, 2002).
However, since then many studies have been conducted ranging from personally irrelevant material like that of a white bear to recollections of personally relevant events in the past and from single words to stories or films (Gerarts & Mc Nally, 2007). With regard to the rebound effect, these studies produced mixed results. Some authors found the effect for personally non-relevant material while others found an increase in thought frequency only for personally relevant material (Aikins, Johnson & Borelli, 2009). Some authors found no rebound effect at all, but could demonstrate an immediate enhancement effect (Shohov, 2003). Finally, some results found neither of the two possible paradoxical effects of thought suppression.
Example-Research
Investigators of thought suppression and its strategies have found broad interest during the last years. One research article is Forgetting unwanted memories: Directed forgetting and thought suppression methods (Geraerts & Mc Nally, 2007) in which the hypothesis was to investigate the effects of intended thought suppression. For example, to see if one can really avoid memories we do not wish to think about. Wegner, Schneider, Carter & White, (1987) conducted a study resulting in the effects of thought suppression. First, participants were assigned to two experimental conditions: One group was instructed to suppress thoughts of a presented stimulus, a second was to express stimulus thoughts (thoughts of a white bear). In a second period, the conditions were interchanged between groups. Wegner and his group found that the instruction to suppress a thought was not only difficult to accomplish but moreover produced the opposite effect, resulting in an increased frequency of the formerly suppressed thought. The group described two possible paradoxical effects of thought suppression: first the augmented frequency of the to be suppressed target thought already during the suppression period, which was named immediate enhancement effect, and second the so called rebound effect, which describes the elevated frequency of thoughts after withdrawal of the suppression instruction compared to a condition without former suppression instruction.
Example-Real Life
Suppose there was a story about a couple that had a bad break up and due to thought suppression the girl ended up committing suicide. This couple was together for nearly ten years before the guy named Alberto decided it was time to move on since he was not in love with his girlfriend Elizabeth anymore. He was very polite during the breakup and honest with Elizabeth. However, she did the impossible not to think about him. She always kept herself busy. She even got a second job in order for her not to think about him. She did not like talking to anybody about her past ten years. It was almost as if she was in denial of anything that had to do with him. However, it was not until nine weeks later when she happened to run into him at a store and he was with another female. She then became extremely depressed because all her feelings came all together. She found herself in a position were she could not stop thinking about him or with the female she had seen him with. Although, Alberto and the female were just friends Elizabeth could not handle the fact that they were no longer together even though it had been nine weeks. To her it felt like if they had just broken up. It was too much too handle for her. She then isolated herself from everyone and everything she ended up committing suicide. I think sometimes it is best to accept what we have been through because trying to avoid something we do not wish to think about may have different effects. For example, if Elizabeth would have faced reality since the beginning of the break up by accepting it was over between her and Alberto she would have been more prepared when she saw him with the other girl. It may have been hard for her when he broke up with her but in the long run she would have been better off. I believe it is never healthy to use thought suppression because it is like running away from one’s problems.
References
Aikins, E., Johnson C., & Borelli,L., (2009). Behavior research and Therapy. Thought Suppression failures in combat PTSD: A cognitive load hypothesis(pp744-751).Volume 47.
Aronson, Wilson, D., & Akert, M., (2007). Social Psychlogy (6th edition). Pearson Prentice Hall, NJ.
Geraerts, E., & Mc Nally J., (2007). Acta Psychologica. Forgetting unwanted memories: Directed forgetting and thought suppression methods (pp614-622). Volume 127.
Pettit, W., Norton J., & Grover, E., (2009). Depression and Anxiety. Thought Suppression and suicidal ideation: Preliminary evidence in support of a robust Association(758-763). Volume 26.
Sholov, P. (2003). Topics in Cognitive Psychology (pp117-134). New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Smith, A., & Hertel, T., (2002). Cognitive biases in an anxiety and depression. Cognition & Emotion (pp403-4220. Volume 16.
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