Chronic thought suppression

Wegner, Daniel M.; Zanakos, Sophia

doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00311.x

Cited by 1,245Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesObsessive-Compulsive Spectrum DisordersPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Chronic thought suppression

Wegner, Daniel M., Zanakos, Sophia·1994·Journal of Personality

DOI 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00311.x

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Abstract

We conducted several tests of the idea that an inclination toward thought suppression is associated with obsessive thinking and emotional reactivity. Initially, we developed a self-report measure of thought suppression through successive factor-analytic procedures and found that it exhibited acceptable internal consistency and temporal stability. This measure, the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), was found to correlate with measures of obsessional thinking and depressive and anxious affect, to predict signs of clinical obsession among individuals prone toward obsessional thinking, to predict depression among individuals motivated to dislike negative thoughts, and to predict failure of electrodermal responses to habituate among people having emotional thoughts. The WBSI was inversely correlated with repression as assessed by the Repression-Sensitization Scale, and so taps a trait that is quite unlike repression as traditionally conceived.

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Suppression, when used as a primary strategy of coping, is associated to a high level of depressive and obsessive symptoms.
“Suppression is a specific avoidance strategy, which when used as a primary strategy of coping is associated to a high level of depressive and obsessive symptoms (17) .”
From Aceptación de miedos a la recaída en pacientes con cáncer de mama: efectos de una intervención abreviada basada en la ACT (2016) · cites this paper as [17]
Studies have shown detrimental effects of efforts to avoid cognitive contents, especially in the long run.
“Regarding efficacy, studies have shown detrimental effects of efforts to avoid cognitive contents, especially in the long run (17) .”
From Aceptación de miedos a la recaída en pacientes con cáncer de mama: efectos de una intervención abreviada basada en la ACT (2016) · cites this paper as [17]
Children who employ less cognitive avoidance are more likely to respond better to treatment, as they consciously process rather than actively avoid unpleasant worry thoughts.
“Thus, children who employ less cognitive avoidance are more likely to respond better to treatment, as they consciously process, rather than actively avoid, unpleasant worry thoughts.”
From The efficacy of a group-based, disorder-specific treatment program for childhood GAD - A randomized controlled trial (2014) · cites this paper as Wegner & Zanakos, 1994
Diagnoses were derived by the CIDI and validated by expert clinicians.
“Diagnoses were derived by the CIDI and validated by expert clinicians [33][34][35][36][37][38] .”
From Treating Treatment-Resistant Patients with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Using Psychotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Switching Trial. (2015) · cites this paper as [34]

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Authors: Wegner, D. M., & Zanakos, S.
Affiliations: University of Virginia (US)
Venue: Journal of Personality
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 1994-12
Volume: 62
Issue: 4
Pages: 615-640
ISSN: 0022-3506 (ISSN-L)
1467-6494
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00311.x
OpenAlex: W2030767477
Cited by: 1,245
References: 20
Citations by year: 2026: 23 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 73 · 2015: 71 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 57
FWCI: 8.26
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 4166 d)
Locations: Journal of Personality (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords: thought suppression, obsessive thoughts, White Bear Suppression Inventory, emotional reactivity, depression, anxiety, repression, electrodermal response, habituation, self-report measure development
MeSH terms: Affect, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Obsessive Behavior, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Repression, Psychology, Thinking

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