A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Ironic Effects of Thought Suppression : A Meta-Analysis (2020)

Wang, D. (., Hagger, M. S., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. (2020). Ironic Effects of Thought Suppression : A Meta-Analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15(3), 778-793. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619898795

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Wang, Deming (Adam); Hagger, Martin S.; Chatzisarantis, Nikos L. D.

Journal or series: Perspectives on Psychological Science

ISSN: 1745-6916

eISSN: 1745-6924

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 15

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 778-793

Publisher: Sage Publications

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619898795

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://psyarxiv.com/c64fp/

Abstract

The ironic effect of thought suppression refers to the phenomenon in which individuals trying to rid their mind of a target thought ironically experience greater levels of occurrence and accessibility of the thought compared with individuals who deliberately concentrate on the thought (Wegner, 1994, doi:10.1037/0033-295X.101.1.34). Ironic effects occurring after thought suppression, also known as rebound effects, were consistently detected by previous meta-analyses. However, ironic effects that occur during thought suppression, also known as immediate enhancement effects, were found to be largely absent. In this meta-analysis, we test Wegner’s original proposition that detection of immediate enhancement effects depends on the cognitive load experienced by individuals when enacting thought suppression. Given that thought suppression is an effortful cognitive process, we propose that the introduction of additional cognitive load would compete for the allocation of existing cognitive resources and impair capacity for thought suppression. Studies (k = 31) consistent with Wegner’s original thought-suppression paradigm were analyzed. Consistent with our predictions, rebound effects were observed regardless of cognitive load, whereas immediate enhancement effects were observed only in the presence of cognitive load. We discuss implications in light of ironic-process theory and suggest future thought-suppression research.

Keywords: cognitive processes; thinking; meta-analysis

Free keywords: thought suppression; ironic effect; immediate enhancement effect; rebound effect; cognitive load

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 2