How many times have you tried to suppress an unwanted thought, only to ruminate on it even more? Research shows that the brain reacts to attempts at thought suppression by repeatedly checking for the thought, making it stronger and increasing our distress. Dr. Laurie explains why our minds work in this paradoxical way—and explores the science behind intrusive thoughts, bad memories, and mental control. Through stories of real people who have confronted and overcome disruptive thoughts, she shares how acceptance, attention shifts, and self-compassion can lead to less stress and greater happiness. 

Experts Mentioned:
- Daniel Wegner, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
- Eve Ekman, Senior Fellow, Greater Good Science Center 
- James Pennebaker, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Texas Austin
- James Gross, Ernest R. Hilgard Professor of Psychology, Stanford University

Resources Mentioned
- "When the Antidote is the Poison: Ironic Mental Control Processes," (Psychological Science, 1997)
- "Paradoxical Effects of Thought Suppression," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987)
- "The Putt and the Pendulum: Ironic Effects of the Mental Control of Action" (Psychological Science, 1998)
- The Eichmann Trial
- "Disclosure of Traumas and Health Among Holocaust Survivors," (Psychosomatic Medicine, 1989)
- Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions by James Pennebaker (1997)
- "Antecedent- and Response-Focused Emotion Regulation: Divergent Consequences for Experience, Expression, and Physiology," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998)
- "Delayed Costs of Suppressed Pain," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1993) 
- "Not in Front of the Kids: Effects of Parental Suppression on Socialization Behaviors During Cooperative Parent–Child Interactions," (Emotion, 2019)
- "The Four Noble Truths," (BBC, 2009) 

Related episodes of "The Happiness Lab":
- "Q: 'How Do I Stop Negative Self-Talk?' (with Ethan Kross)"
- "Emotions Are Data…So Listen to Them"
- "Hack Your Emotions (with Ethan Kross)"
- "How to Handle Change"
- "How to Fight Perfectionism"

How many times have you tried to suppress an unwanted thought, only to ruminate on it even more? Research shows that the brain reacts to attempts at thought suppression by repeatedly checking for the thought, making it stronger and increasing our distress. Dr. Laurie explains why our minds work in this paradoxical way&mdash;and explores the science behind intrusive thoughts, bad memories, and mental control. Through stories of real people who have confronted and overcome disruptive thoughts, she shares how acceptance, attention shifts, and self-compassion can lead to less stress and greater happiness. Experts Mentioned: - <a href="https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/remembering-daniel-m-wegner">Daniel Wegner</a>, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University - <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/eve_ekman">Eve Ekman</a>, Senior Fellow, Greater Good Science Center - <a href="https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/pennebak">James Pennebaker</a>, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Texas Austin - <a href="https://spl.stanford.edu/people/james-gross">James Gross, Ernest R. Hilgard Professor of Psychology</a>, Stanford University Resources Mentioned - "<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00399.x?casa_token=xGEEm4uhgPMAAAAA:AymkjAeGdO61jqu0TJvIkpxj2a-MbzEiWxa7CfZiOMyP7jkZUFVEU8HK2vNKFbf0lGGbgWR_ng">When the Antidote is the Poison: Ironic Mental Control Processes</a>," (Psychological Science, 1997) - "<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/1987-33493-001">Paradoxical Effects of Thought Suppression</a>," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987) - "<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-02495-006">The Putt and the Pendulum: Ironic Effects of the Mental Control of Action</a>" (Psychological Science, 1998) - <a href="https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/eichmann-trial.html">The Eichmann Trial </a>- "<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1990-07934-001">Disclosure of Traumas and Health Among Holocaust Survivors</a>," (Psychosomatic Medicine, 1989) - <a href="https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=F3gF8OoKydQC&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PA1&amp;dq=pennebaker+opening&amp;ots=g8Ju09PSYI&amp;sig=TVx5iRex8rAiQxE5Id735OnnA7k#v=onepage&amp;q=pennebaker%20opening&amp;f=false">Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions</a> by James Pennebaker (1997) - "<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/1997-38342-016">Antecedent- and Response-Focused Emotion Regulation: Divergent Consequences for Experience, Expression, and Physiology</a>," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998) - "<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.64.2.274">Delayed Costs of Suppressed Pain</a>," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1993) - "<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-57927-001?doi=1">Not in Front of the Kids: Effects of Parental Suppression on Socialization Behaviors During Cooperative Parent&ndash;Child Interactions</a>," (Emotion, 2019) - "<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/beliefs/fournobletruths_1.shtml">The Four Noble Truths</a>," (BBC, 2009) Related episodes of "The Happiness Lab": - "<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/q-how-do-i-stop-negative-self-talk">Q: 'How Do I Stop Negative Self-Talk?' (with Ethan Kross)</a>" - "<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/emotions-are-data-so-listen-to-them">Emotions Are Data&hellip;So Listen to Them</a>" - "<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/hack-your-emotions">Hack Your Emotions (with Ethan Kross)</a>" - "<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/bonus-how-to-handle-change">How to Handle Change</a>" - "<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-fight-perfectionism">How to Fight Perfectionism</a>"

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Why It's So Hard to Stop Intrusive Thoughts—And What Actually Helps

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bc54c039-24f6-4577-a63c-ae32007f88d2/transcript