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.
Social psychologist Daniel Wegner first studied ironic process theory in a laboratory setting in 1987.
In extreme cases, ironic mental processes result in intrusive thoughts about doing something immoral or out of character, which can be troubling to the individual.
[5] The first study investigating the paradoxical effects of thought suppression was conducted by Daniel Wegner in a laboratory in 1987.
Results showed that the initial suppression group exhibited more frequent thought of the white bear in the expression task.
The second experiment added a third group, asking participants to think of a red Volkswagen as a distractor during the suppression task.
[4] Wegner claims that successful thought suppression requires two distinct mental processes, that must be performed simultaneously.
When individuals' attention is on another task, their mental resources become limited, making it difficult to conduct the operating process.
[7] The ironic process theory predicts that suppressing the desire to eat can paradoxically lead to overeating due to limited cognitive resources.
Boom et al. conducted an experiment in 2002 to investigate the interaction between suppression, distraction, and the perceived calorie content of the food stimuli.
The experiment was a "2 (restrained/unrestrained) * 2 (distraction yes/no) * 2 (perceived calories high/low) design, in which subjects consumed ice cream in a taste test situation."
Therefore, therapists should inform patients that negative thoughts may be beneficial and encourage them to accept their feelings rather than suppress them.
[14] The experience sampling or daily diary method is one way that psychologists attempt to scientifically measure thoughts.
This involves "interrupting people as they go about their daily lives and asking them to record the thoughts they are having right at that moment, in that place", often by using "clickers".
"[15] In the course of his years of research, Wegner discovered that interested people invariably asked if there was any way to avoid or suppress the unwanted thought.
[4] In Winter Notes on Summer Impressions (1863), Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote: "Try to pose for yourself this task: not to think of a polar bear, and you will see that the cursed thing will come to mind every minute."
Wegner's determination to devise and carry out the white bear experiments was originally inspired by Dostoevsky's observation.
[21] In 1974, the modern expression "[don't] think of a pink elephant" appeared in Curt Siodmak's City In the Sky:[22] I know how bad off I am.
My mind starts walking its own road as soon as I close my eyes.Psychological reactance theory is an alternative explanation for ironic process phenomena.
[23] This theory suggests that humans have an innate need for freedom, and that when their autonomy is threatened they experience an unpleasant emotional arousal – reactance.
[10] Similar ideas appear throughout popular culture and sayings, often with variations on animal and color, such as "It's as hard as trying not to think of a pink rhinoceros.
One of the team, Ray, thinking of what he considers to be an innocuous thought of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, who then terrorizes them.
The idea figures heavily into the episode "White Bear" of British television series Black Mirror.