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PubMed · 10349580

Suppressing thoughts about chocolate.

L Johnston·C M Bulik·V Anstiss
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Thought suppression frequently results in subsequent hyperaccessibility of the suppressed thoughts. This study investigated whether this effect transfers to behavior. Does suppressing thoughts result in a subsequent increase in the performance of behaviors related to those thoughts? METHODS: Twenty chocolate cravers and 22 noncravers were instructed to suppress chocolate-related thoughts in an articulated thoughts task or they were given no specific instructions. Participants then completed a computer-based task which yielded chocolate rewards. RESULTS: Both cravers and noncravers could suppress chocolate-related thoughts when instructed to do so. Both groups of participants showed greater performance, and hence earned more chocolate, in the suppression than control condition (p < .05). DISCUSSION: Behavioral control may follow many of the same ironic pathways traced by mental control.

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BehaviorCacaoFeeding BehaviorFemaleHumansThinkingJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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L Johnston, C M Bulik, V Anstiss. 1999. Suppressing thoughts about chocolate.. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199907)26%3A1%3C21%3A%3Aaid-eat3%3E3.0.co%3B2-7

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