White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts

By Daniel M. Wegner,

Book cover of White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts: Suppression, Obsession, and the Psychology of Mental Control

Book description

In a series of groundbreaking experiments, Daniel M. Wegner told subjects not to think about white bears. Of course, they found it impossible to avoid thinking of the bears--just as it often seems impossible to stop thinking about forbidden foods, a painful memory, or everyday fears and worries. Synthesizing a…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is an easily accessible book based on Wegner's brilliant work on consciousness and mental control. I have always found Wegner’s work utterly fascinating as it provides such a convincing picture of a mind constantly in a struggle to think coherently – something that I easily recognise in my own conscious awareness. The findings on intrusive implicit thoughts were particularly influential in my own writing about the conflict between dormant thoughts and conscious appraisal that may be factors in why magical thinking surfaces in the rational mind.

From Bruce's list on magical thinking and superstition.

Want books like White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts.

Browse books like White Bears and Other Unwanted Thoughts

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in self-control, thinking, and superstitions?

Self-Control 16 books
Thinking 48 books
Superstitions 20 books