Ironic process theory

So-called Ironic processes have been described in psychology pioneered by Daniel Wegner (1994). They occur when attempting to thought suppression. The object or the behavior that they sought to avoid in thought, just then pushes into the foreground.

Experiments

• Trial participants, who were asked not to think of a white bear, experienced a greater intrusion precisely this image in the following minutes.
• Trial participants, who should keep quiet and a pendulum were specifically instructed not to let it swing in a certain direction, produced rashes in exactly this direction.

Theory

According to Wegner, any effort to suppress a particular pulse, accompanied by the concern, this impulse could still occur anyway. To prevent this, an internal monitor (a kind Bewacherfunktion ) in force, but which provides paradoxically alone by its existence that the particular content of thought is particularly available and therefore is incident also more likely to occur. If the cognitive load is so great by additional requirements that deliberate distraction is disabled, the monitor process means that the content of thought comes to the fore again. " Any attempt to bring one's thoughts under control, already carries the seeds of failure in itself"

Occur in practice

• Unsuccessful attempt to suppress incriminating thoughts in a depression
• Insomnia ( and trying not to think that one can not sleep )
• Suicide and self- injury Fantasies