Why distractors with need-supportive content can mitigate ironic effects of thought suppression

Abstract

Thought suppression is a self-regulatory strategy commonly used to avoid unwanted thoughts although it can ironically make unwanted thoughts more intrusive and accessible. To reduce these ironic effects, it is important to explore mechanisms underlying effective suppression. The present study recruited 126 undergraduate students and examined the influence of distractor content on suppression outcomes by examining perceived satisfaction and immersion of distractors as mechanisms of effective suppression. Based on self-determination theory, we proposed that distractors associated with the satisfaction of the psychological need for autonomy would mitigate ironic effects of thought suppression because they would be perceived as satisfying and immersive. Results showed that need-supportive distractors reduced intrusion frequency because they were indeed perceived as more satisfying. Our findings also point towards the unique satisfying properties of distractors involving psychological need satisfaction because effects of single, pleasant and personally relevant distractors have been controlled for. Findings are discussed using Wegner's (1994) theories of thought suppression and principles of self-determination theory.

Ironic Effects of Thought Suppression: A Meta-Analysis

“…This is because studies demonstrating the immediate enhancement effect under cognitive load have one feature in common: their employment of measures that do not depend on self-reports. For example, rather than asking participants to recall how many times the target thought crossed their mind (Wang, Chatzisarantis, & Hagger, 2018), these studies mostly used implicit measures of target-thought accessibility such as through Stroop-task reaction times (Slepian et al, 2014). 5 On the other hand, the only study that did not demonstrate the immediate enhancement effect under cognitive load adopted a self-report measure of target-thought occurrences (Magee & Zinbarg, 2007).…”

The role of autobiographical memory in competence need satisfaction

“…Intrinsic motives and values (as opposed to extrinsic motives and values) are associated with a greater likelihood of achieving goals and positive psychological outcomes Ryan & Deci, 2000a). Moreover, evidence suggests that intrinsic goals (e.g., personal growth, building close relationships, contributing to the community) lead to greater satisfaction of basic psychological needs than extrinsic goals (e.g., popularity, materialism, attractiveness; Brdar, Rijavec, & Miljković, 2009;Robak and Nagda 2011;Sheldon et al 2001;Vansteenkiste et al 2006;Wang, Chatzisarantis, & Hagger, 2018). According to SDT, extrinsic goals do have the ability to provide temporary need satisfaction, but they do not elevate well-being (Deci & Ryan, 2000;Kasser & Ryan, 1996;Lekes et al, 2014).…”

“…Some researchers have used memory prompts that explicitly prompt participants to report memories they perceive to be need-satisfying. For example, Wang, Chatzisarantis, and Hagger (2018) asked participants assigned to an autonomy-satisfying condition to narrate a memory of an event that they genuinely enjoyed and that they felt satisfied their need for autonomy. Conversely, participants assigned to the "extrinsic" memory condition were asked to report a memory of an event that satisfied their desire for image-attractiveness (i.e., a time where they were satisfied with their physical appearance).…”

Volitional Action Control and Depression in Chronic Pain: Does Action versus State Orientation Moderate the Relations of Pain-Related Cognitions to Depression?

“…Access to implicit self-representations enables an overview of coping strategies that have helped in the past, discriminating one's own from others' preferences, and therefore choosing more self-congruent goals and distraction activities Beckmann & Kellmann, 2004;Kuhl & Kazén, 1994a). More self-congruent distractors that satisfy personal needs can reduce rebound effects (Wang et al, 2018).…”