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Ironic process theory (IPT), also known as the Pink elephant paradox [1] or White bear phenomenon, suggests that when an individual intentionally tries to avoid thinking a certain thought or feeling a certain emotion, a paradoxical effect is produced: the attempted avoidance not only fails in its object but in fact causes the thought or emotion to occur more frequently and more intensely. [2]
“Intrusive thoughts are spontaneous, unwanted thoughts that we have that are usually unpleasant in some way,” says Ayanna Abrams, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and founder and executive ...
Thought suppression is a psychoanalytical defense mechanism. It is a type of motivated forgetting in which an individual consciously attempts to stop thinking about a particular thought. [1] [2] It is often associated with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). [3]
Thought suppression has mainly been studied using arbitrary thoughts (such as that of a white bear [9]) making it unrepresentative of real problematic thoughts that involve emotion, which could actually be harder to suppress. Meanwhile, studies on thought stopping have proven it to be effective against problematic cognition, showing a ...
In some cases, stress can push you to be a better professional. In others, it can do the exact opposite.
Empathy causes an individual to understand the physical/emotional pain and suffering of others. When an interaction occurs, cognitive inhibition on the part of the individual causes him or her to respond appropriately and avoid upsetting someone already in physical or emotional pain. Again, this is important in maintaining social relationships.
The process of EA is thought to be maintained through negative reinforcement — that is, short-term relief of discomfort is achieved through avoidance, thereby increasing the likelihood that the avoidance behavior will persist. Importantly, the current conceptualization of EA suggests that it is not negative thoughts, emotions, and sensations ...
Such thoughts are universal among humans, and have "almost certainly always been a part of the human condition." [10] When intrusive thoughts occur with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), patients are less able to ignore the unpleasant thoughts and may pay undue attention to them, causing the thoughts to become more frequent and distressing. [7]