Suppressing thoughts about chocolate.
OBJECTIVE
Thought suppression frequently results in subsequent hyperaccessibility of the suppressed thoughts. This study investigated whether this effect transfers to behavior. Does suppressing thoughts result in a subsequent increase in the performance of behaviors related to those thoughts?


METHODS
Twenty chocolate cravers and 22 noncravers were instructed to suppress chocolate-related thoughts in an articulated thoughts task or they were given no specific instructions. Participants then completed a computer-based task which yielded chocolate rewards.


RESULTS
Both cravers and noncravers could suppress chocolate-related thoughts when instructed to do so. Both groups of participants showed greater performance, and hence earned more chocolate, in the suppression than control condition (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral control may follow many of the same ironic pathways traced by mental control.
Johnston
L
L
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. psyc380@psyc.canterbury.ac.nz
Bulik
C M
CM
Anstiss
V
V
D001519:Behavior; D002099:Cacao; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013850:Thinking