thought suppression
[/θɔːt səˈpreʃən/]
nounpl: thought suppressions
supressão de pensamentos
1. The deliberate attempt to prevent or inhibit specific thoughts from entering consciousness or to push unwanted thoughts out of the mind
His thought suppression only made the intrusive thoughts more persistent.
Sua supressão de pensamentos apenas tornou os pensamentos intrusivos mais persistentes.
2. A psychological phenomenon where actively trying not to think about something paradoxically increases its frequency and prominence in one's mind
Researchers found that thought suppression can backfire and increase anxiety.
Pesquisadores descobriram que a supressão de pensamentos pode ter efeito contrário e aumentar a ansiedade.
3. A coping mechanism or defense strategy used to manage unwanted or distressing thoughts, often employed in obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps patients move away from thought suppression toward acceptance.
A terapia cognitivo-comportamental ajuda pacientes a se afastarem da supressão de pensamentos em direção à aceitação.
The concept of thought suppression is heavily discussed in contemporary psychology, particularly in cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions in both Brazil and the USA. In American psychology literature, it's a well-established phenomenon known as the 'ironic process theory' or the 'rebound effect.' In Brazil, the term has gained prominence with the increasing popularity of CBT and acceptance-based therapies. The cultural context emphasizes that suppression is generally considered counterproductive, with modern therapeutic approaches favoring acceptance and mindfulness strategies instead.
Related Idioms & Phrases
trying to push something out of one's mind
trying not to think about something
the more you try not to think about it, the more you think about it
fighting against intrusive thoughts
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →