TY - JOUR
T1 - To suppress, or not to suppress? That is repression
T2 - Controlling intrusive thoughts in addictive behaviour
AU - Moss, Antony C.
AU - Erskine, James A.K.
AU - Albery, Ian P.
AU - Allen, James Richard
AU - Georgiou, George J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2015/5/1
Y1 - 2015/5/1
N2 - Research to understand how individuals cope with intrusive negative or threatening thoughts suggests a variety of different cognitive strategies aimed at thought control. In this review, two of these strategies - thought suppression and repressive coping - are discussed in the context of addictive behaviour. Thought suppression involves conscious, volitional attempts to expel a thought from awareness, whereas repressive coping, which involves the avoidance of thoughts without the corresponding conscious intention, appears to be a far more automated process. Whilst there has been an emerging body of research exploring the role of thought suppression in addictive behaviour, there remains a dearth of research which has considered the role of repressive coping in the development of, and recovery from, addiction. Based on a review of the literature, and a discussion of the supposed mechanisms which underpin these strategies for exercising mental control, a conceptual model is proposed which posits a potential common mechanism. This model makes a number of predictions which require exploration in future research to fully understand the cognitive strategies utilised by individuals to control intrusive thoughts related to their addictive behaviour.
AB - Research to understand how individuals cope with intrusive negative or threatening thoughts suggests a variety of different cognitive strategies aimed at thought control. In this review, two of these strategies - thought suppression and repressive coping - are discussed in the context of addictive behaviour. Thought suppression involves conscious, volitional attempts to expel a thought from awareness, whereas repressive coping, which involves the avoidance of thoughts without the corresponding conscious intention, appears to be a far more automated process. Whilst there has been an emerging body of research exploring the role of thought suppression in addictive behaviour, there remains a dearth of research which has considered the role of repressive coping in the development of, and recovery from, addiction. Based on a review of the literature, and a discussion of the supposed mechanisms which underpin these strategies for exercising mental control, a conceptual model is proposed which posits a potential common mechanism. This model makes a number of predictions which require exploration in future research to fully understand the cognitive strategies utilised by individuals to control intrusive thoughts related to their addictive behaviour.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Mindfulness
KW - Repressive coping
KW - Smoking
KW - Thought suppression
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84923309578&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.01.029
DO - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.01.029
M3 - Article
C2 - 25648574
AN - SCOPUS:84923309578
SN - 0306-4603
VL - 44
SP - 65
EP - 70
JO - Addictive Behaviors
JF - Addictive Behaviors
ER -
