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This is the preregistration document for Ironic Effects of Thought Suppression - a Multilab Registered Replication Report

We test whether people who give delayed responses to questions are perceived to be less extraverted, and whether response time affects employers' inclination to hire job applicants based on job type, presumably as a result of extraversion inferences. Specifically, employers should perceive fast responders as more extraverted and be more inclined to hire them for a position that is more social in nature. On the other hand, employers should perceive slow responders as more introverted and be more inclined to hire them for a position that is more solitary in nature.

In this study, we test whether responders who seem more passive (vs. more proactive) when responding to a question are perceived as more introverted

In this study, we test whether responders who are quicker to respond to a question are perceived as more extraverted compared to those who respond after a slight delay. We predict that this is because response delays give the impression that the responder is more nervous when answering the question. We further predict that this mediation effect would be moderated by relationship closeness between the responder and the person whom the responder is responding to.

In this study, we test whether responders' response speed affects observer's inferences of their extraversion. Specifically, do faster responders come across as more extraverted?

In this study, we test whether responders' response speed affects observer's inferences of their extraversion. Specifically, do faster responders come across as more extraverted?

In this study, we test whether people expect extraverted individuals to respond to questions more quickly compared to introverted individuals.

Basic effect replication in a different demographic

In this study, we test whether responders who are quicker to respond to a question are perceived as more extraverted compared to those who respond after a slight delay.

Basic effect + mediation

In the present study we wished to test whether delayed revenge is more satisfying than swift revenge, and whether this because avengers believe that the perpetrator expects revenge less after a delay compared to immediately following the wrongdoing

Basic effect + moderation via number of answers presented

Basic effect + mediation

Response ambiguity - bidirectionality (Do responders also perceive ambiguous answers as less likable?)

We test whether people who give delayed responses to questions are perceived to be more nervous

Basic effect replication using video stimuli

We test whether people who give delayed responses to questions are perceived to be more passive

Basic effect + moderation

Basic effect + downstream effects

Research has shown that thought suppression is not an ideal mental control strategy as it can ironically increase intrusions and accessibility of unwanted thought. Although focused-distraction has been shown as an effective strategy in mitigating such ironic effects, mixed findings have rendered this evidence inconclusive. In the present study, we sought to resolve this inconsistency by examining variables related to distractor content as mechanisms for effective thought suppression, an aspect yet to be examined. Building on ironic process theory and self-determination theory, the current study predicted that distractors associated with fulfilment of the psychological need for competence would improve thought suppression outcomes because they would be satisfying and immersive to think about. We asked 93 undergraduate students to engage in a thought suppression task and examined the influence of perceived satisfaction and immersion of distractors as mechanisms mitigating ironic effects of thought suppression. Results supported our predictions. In addition, they suggested that our predicted relationships persisted after controlling for effects of focused-distraction strategies that focused participants’ attention on a neutral object and distractors reflecting the attainment of the extrinsic goal of financial success. This allows us to eliminate the alternative explanations that need-supportive distractors are effective as a result of the focused-distraction strategy in general, or due to its pleasant and personally relevant content. Findings suggest that effectiveness of focused-distraction in thought suppression can be augmented by using satisfying and immersive distractors, such as those with need-supportive content.

Thought suppression is a self-regulatory strategy commonly used to avoid unwanted thoughts although it can ironically make unwanted thoughts more intrusive and accessible. To reduce these ironic effects, it is important to explore mechanisms underlying effective suppression. The present study recruited 126 undergraduate students and examined the influence of distractor content on suppression outcomes by examining perceived satisfaction and immersion of distractors as mechanisms of effective suppression. Based on self-determination theory, we proposed that distractors associated with the satisfaction of the psychological need for autonomy would mitigate ironic effects of thought suppression because they would be perceived as satisfying and immersive. Results showed that need-supportive distractors reduced intrusion frequency because they were indeed perceived as more satisfying. Our findings also point towards the unique satisfying properties of distractors involving psychological need satisfaction because effects of single, pleasant and personally relevant distractors have been controlled for. Findings are discussed using Wegner’s (Psychological Review 101:34–52, 1994) theories of thought suppression and principles of self-determination theory.