Back to Search Start Over

Effects of suppression and appraisals on thought frequency and distress

Authors :
Sheila R. Woody
Kathleen M. Corcoran
Source :
Behaviour research and therapy. 47(12)
Publication Year :
2009

Abstract

Cognitive theories of obsessions highlight appraisals of personal significance and thought suppression in the development and maintenance of intrusive thoughts. The current study examined the role of personal significance within the context of a thought suppression paradigm. The primary aim was to examine whether suppression would have differential effects for target thoughts appraised as personally meaningful versus relatively unimportant. A blasphemous thought served as the target thought, and highly religious and nonreligious participants were recruited. Participants completed a two-interval thought suppression task; during interval 1 they were randomly assigned to suppress or not suppress the target thought and during interval 2, all participants were given "do not suppress" instructions. Suppression resulted in sustained frequency of thoughts in contrast to the decline in thought frequency observed for non-suppression. Differential effects of suppression were found across the two groups. Moreover, suppression was associated with increased negative mood and anxiety. Results suggest that suppression of personally meaningful thoughts is a counterproductive strategy.

Details

ISSN :
1873622X
Volume :
47
Issue :
12
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Behaviour research and therapy
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....0f8ccaf08e77cb8df8a10bda38d50c4e