The Psychology Index

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Self-regulation

Ironic rebound effect

The ironic rebound effect is the finding that deliberately suppressing a thought can make it come back more often once a person stops trying. It is often illustrated by the instruction not to think about a white bear.

The original studies

Daniel Wegner and colleagues asked participants to think freely while avoiding the thought of a white bear, ringing a bell whenever it came to mind. When later permitted to think about the bear, those who had first suppressed it mentioned it more than those who had not.

Why it might happen

Wegner's ironic process theory describes two mental processes. An effortful operator seeks distracting thoughts, while an automatic monitor scans for the unwanted thought so that its appearance can be detected. When attention is strained by stress or load, the monitor keeps working and the unwanted thought becomes more accessible.

How reliable is it?

A recent meta-analysis found that suppression tends to reduce the thought while the attempt continues, with evidence of rebound under some conditions. The effect appears to vary with the task and the thought involved. Researchers are cautious about drawing direct conclusions for clinical problems, where intrusive thoughts have more complex causes.

Further reading

  • Wegner, D. M., Schneider, D. J., Carter, S. R., & White, T. L. (1987). Paradoxical effects of thought suppression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 5-13.
  • Wegner, D. M. (1994). Ironic processes of mental control. Psychological Review, 101, 34-52.
  • Wang, D. A., Hagger, M. S., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. (2020). Ironic effects of thought suppression: A meta-analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15, 778-793.
Self-regulation

Ego depletion

Wellbeing

Mindfulness