Cambridge scientists doubt that suppressing negative thoughts and emotions brings more harm than their processing.
The fact that sad thoughts and fears should not be suppressed was stated by Sigmund Freud, who “emotionally acted out” certain situations with clients, thereby helping them.
The authors of the new study asked some volunteers to imagine situations that they themselves regarded as frightening, while others were asked to imagine pleasant situations and drive away thoughts of unpleasant ones. The second group was taught a special technology that allows them to suppress certain thoughts through conscious effort. Psychologists say that the mental state of the second group of volunteers improved.