Thought Suppression
1. The section on thought suppression discusses how we can try to make ourselves stop thinking about something, but the more we do this, the more we automatically and unconsciously search for parts of that undesirable thought. This is called ironic effects of mental control in the text. Once we stop forcing ourselves not to think about that thoughts, the automatic process of searching for clues of that thought ends.
2. This ties into learning about consciousness. We obviously are aware of things that are running through our minds even if we are trying to stop them from doing so. It seems that sometimes we just want control what we are thinking about or what we are paying attention to.
3. I'm still not clear on whether or not there is a way to stop ourselves from thinking about specific things. I know people use stop thought processes to try and change behaviors, and this is often using a rubber band and snapping it when you do something you don't want to do. ( I've used this to stop biting my nails) But is there actually a way to successfully diet without thinking of delicious foods?
4. I guess one thing I can do as a school counselor is allow students to discuss issues that are going to affect our meeting together. An example would be if a student really wants to tell a story of something that happened or ask questions about something that is worrying them, not allowing them to tell you may be forcing them to try and suppress that thought. The thought may be continually creeping into their thoughts while you are talking with them. If they can get it out early, maybe they can think more clearly later.
5. The author offers Demonstration 3.4 which allows the reader to try to suppress a thought of the white bear while doing another activity. The author also offers a study done by Wegnor in order to test the white bear demonstration and provides the results from this study.
6. This helps to prove that it is hard to suppress a thought when you are told to or forcing yourself to. It produces a rebound effect according to text, which then allows thoughts of the forbidden topic to overpopulate your thoughts.
7. I guess I won't go on a diet anytime soon because I know I'll think about ice cream. On a more serious level, I'd use this idea with students who have ADD and ADHD because something these students get fidgety trying to suppress this thoughts and comments. I will try to allow these students more time to talk about what is interesting them or bothering them during sessions or in classes.
8. This seems irrelevant for this section.
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Hi Carlie. When I think about thought suppression, I always think about how difficult it is to meditate. It sounds like a relatively simple task to sit quietly and let you mind rest, but for me it is very difficult. I find my mind wanders and all sorts of crazy stuff comes to the front, like I need to pick up milk or did I put soap in the washing machine? I need to email my mom etc.....
ReplyDeleteWhile I have read others who meditate regularly say that this is normal and just work through the thoughts, let them come and then go, to me it is frustrating because I know I am supposed to be focusing on my breath and not whats for dinner. Have you ever tried meditation? If one can make a practice of it, I understand it to be beneficial on many levels. I still try for that quiet because when I do manage it, it is peaceful.
I also wonder about the diet thing. Do you think hypnosis could work for trying to diet or stop smoking? The way I understand it, thoughts are put into your consciousness while you are hypnotized. If you are unable to suppress those thoughts, it sounds like it should work, right???
ReplyDeleteI like your thoughts in #4. I had never thought about it that way. It does seem like it would be easier to just let the child get their thoughts off their mind at the beginning.
I think William commented on this in the discussion group. By not thinking about something, you are in fact thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteFor #8, one application of this question might be some of the examples you discussed, e.g. is one technique for thought suppression better than another. Meditation or rubber bands?
Jenn -- I have meditated before, and it does take awhile, but is pretty effective for stress release when you get there. Try a CD called "Relax into Greatness" (cheesy title I know :-) It even talks about neuroscience research about meditation at the beginning!