White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts - Suppression, Obsession, and the Psychology of Mental Control (Paperback)

A not especially enlightening investigation into why it is so difficult to control frightening, embarrassing, or repellent thoughts and emotions, and how they affect mind and body. Wegner (Psychology/Trinity Univ.) starts out with an experiment in which he asked test subjects, who had been told not to think about a white bear, to talk about everything that came to mind and to ring a bell every time a white bear intruded on their consciousness. The bell rang an average of six times in five minutes. Wegner goes on to review past and present theories - amplified by his own experience - on suppression of and self-distraction from unwanted thoughts and emotions. We learn that William James and other early psychologists were all wet in contending that will power can control mind and emotions. Later research showed that self-distraction works only slightly better than suppression (virtually useless) and only when it involves activities or mental work that are inherently engrossing. Confronting unwanted memories, especially traumatic ones following a bereavement or accident, has proven the most effective coping method. Without such replay, obsessions, depression, and phobias may develop with concomitant physical symptoms: accelerated heartbeat, sleep difficulties, compulsive behavior, etc. Although Wegner writes engagingly, and assiduously mines the literature on his subject, the sum content of useful information here is scanty, predictable, and disappointing. (Kirkus Reviews)

In a series of groundbreaking experiments, Daniel M. Wegner told subjects not to think about white bears. Of course, they found it impossible to avoid thinking of the bears--just as it often seems impossible to stop thinking about forbidden foods, a painful memory, or everyday fears and worries. Synthesizing a wealth of scientific knowledge in an accessible, engaging style, this book reveals that the more we attempt to push away or avoid unwanted thoughts, the deeper they take hold. Wegner offers compelling insights into how unpleasant or obsessive thoughts get out of control--and what we can do to break free of them. Written for general readers, the book has been widely used in undergraduate- and graduate-level courses.

General

Imprint:	Guilford Publications
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	May 1994
First published:	May 1994
Authors:	Daniel M. Wegner
Dimensions:	216 x 138 x 17mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	207
ISBN-13:	978-0-89862-223-2
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Cognition & cognitive psychology > General Promotions
LSN:	0-89862-223-9
Barcode:	9780898622232

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