The DOI matches its Crossref record; 30 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Ironic effects of trying to relax under stress
Abstract
Two studies found that intentional relaxation under conditions of mental load or stress produces ironic increases in skin conductance level (SCL). In Experiment 1, participants instructed to relax under the high mental load of rehearsing a long number had higher SCL than those instructed to relax under low load, and tended to have higher SCL than those under high load not instructed to relax. In Experiment 2, participants were instructed to relax or were not so instructed while they answered questions described either as measures of IQ or as unimportant. Those in the more loading and stressful situation who were asked to relax had greater SCL during the questions than those not asked to relax.
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In the citing paper
“Mindfulness reduces the paradoxical effect by suppressing anxiety-provoking thoughts and stress [147,148].”
From Cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy for the discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use in insomnia and anxiety disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [147]
In the citing paper
“However, there is evidence suggest that relaxation is indeed interpreted in this manner.”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Wegner et al., 1997
In the citing paper
“Indeed, ther e is some evidence individuals perceive relaxation exercises as an effort modify or remove negative or anxiety-related events, in a type of expe riential avoidance (Wegner, Broome, & Blumberg, 1997).”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Wegner, Broome, & Blumberg, 1997
In the citing paper
“They argue that relaxation is open to interpretation as an exercise in suppression or avoidance, and in fact, it is commonly viewed this way.”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Wegner et al., 1997
In the citing paper
“Such paradoxical increases often occur when relaxation is viewed as the avoidance of anxietyrelated experiences.”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Wegner et al., 1997
In the citing paper
“The auth ors suggest that increased cognitive load at the time might constitute the difference between there being no paradoxical effects and the type of increased arousal associated with RIA and RIP.”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Wegner et al., 1997
In the citing paper
“He suggests that once control is sought, the individual begins to monitor for any intrusive thoughts, to suppress or remove them.”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Wegner et al., 1997
In the citing paper
“Participants under high mental load and in a stressful situation displayed greater levels of physiological stress reaction when asked to relax than participants who were not asked to relax.157”
In the citing paper
“The finding of unexpected negative effects of training is consistent with some of the counterintuitive findings reported in the psychology literature.”
Citations
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Wegner, D. M., Erber, R., & Zanakos, S. (1993) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.65.6.1093 · Cited by 430
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Self-citationRelaxation-induced anxiety: Paradoxical anxiety enhancement due to relaxation training.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Wegner, D. M., Broome, A., & Blumberg, S. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Virginia (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wegner, Daniel M.
- ORCID
- Blumberg, Stephen J.
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1997-01
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 11-21
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2141882293
- Cited by
- 117
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 6.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH 49127, R01MH049127)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- ironic effects, relaxation, stress, mental workload, skin conductance, autonomic arousal, stress inoculation training
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Female, Galvanic Skin Response, Humans, Male, Problem Solving, Psychological Theory, Relaxation, Stress, Psychological, Volition
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