Mechanics of Mind Control
Mind Control: Dual Processes
• Wegner (1994)
mental control and its ironies flow from the operation
of a simple mechanism: the interplay of an
intentional operating process and an ironic
monitoring process.
• Cybernetics
Wiener (1948) noted that it takes 2 processes to
control anything at all.
Is the Mind Like a Thermostat?
Dynamics of Control
• control involves changing something to a certain criterion,
thus processes are needed to provide both the change and
the assessment of success in reaching the criterion.
• Miller, Galanter, & Pribram (1960) - TOTE
goal-directed behavior is the result of 2 processes: the
operate and test mechanisms in a test-operate-testexit (TOTE) unit - mind as a thermostat!
Wegner’s Theory of Mental Control
• the two processes underlying mental control are cognitive
search processes that increase the accessibility of stimuli.
Each process is an attentional process that orients the
system toward a particular set of inputs.
• the 2 processes differ with respect to their:
(a) target search, (b) degree of consciousness
(c) attentional demands, (d) conditions of activation
Operating Process
• search target
the desire for a mental state creates an operating
process that seeks items consistent with that state
(e.g., concentration). The desire to avoid a mental
state (e.g., suppression) creates an operating process
that seeks items inconsistent with that state. Thus, the
operator looks for distractors in an attempt to provide
mental control.
• consciousness
the operating process is present in consciousness. It is
the ‘subjective’ feeling of doing in mental life.
• effortfulness
the operating process is an effortful (i.e., controlled)
mental process (i.e, it demands attentional resources
- Bargh, 1989; Hasher & Zacks, 1979; Posner &
Snyder, 1975; Shiffrin & Schneider, 1977). As an
effortful mental activity, it is vulnerable to competing
task demands.
• activation
The operating process is activated by the monitoring
process. Whenever the monitor is satisfied that a
failure of the intentional operation has been found,
the operating process is implemented. Thus, the
operator is a non-continuous process, it occurs
cyclically in response to failure.
Monitoring Process
• search target
the monitoring process searches for indications of the
failure of mental control (i.e., it searches for the
unwanted thought, impulse, or memory). Thus, the
monitor reviews potentially conscious material. A
search attuned for failure is uncomplicated as it needs
only to hold a single template against which input can
be compared.
• disabling the monitor (Luria, 1966)
• frontal lobe dysfunction (Stuss & Benson, 1987)
• consciousness
during mental control attempts, the monitoring
process is usually not reflected in conscious thought.
• effortfulness
the monitoring process is less effortful than the
operating process, thus it is less likely to be disturbed
by concurrent tasks.
• activation
the monitoring process is activated by the initiation of
mental control. Once the intention to control the mind
is implemented, the monitoring process runs
continuously until the intention is relaxed.
Conditions of Irony
• intention to control must be present
• competition for attentional resources
alcohol
stress
cognitive load
• dual-tasks and mental control
Don’t Think About?
Wegner & Erber (1992)
Task
• word association task
• think about or don’t think about house
• respond with associate
home_______
• manipulation of cognitive load
time pressure or no pressure
RESULTS
under time pressure, suppressors responded with the
forbidden item (i.e., house)
Rebound and Hyperaccessibility:
Wegner et al. (1993)
•
•
•
•
Stroop Task
suppress or concentrate on house
report color of ink - house kettle
manipulation of cognitive load
digit rehearsal or control (within subjects)
RESULTS
on high-load trials, suppressors showed impaired colour
naming to target item (hence hyperaccessible)
Mood Control:
Wegner et al. (1993)
• recall either happy or sad life event
sad event (try not to be sad, no instruction, be sad)
happy event (try not to be happy, no instruction, be
happy)
• manipulation of load
digit rehearsal or control (between subjects)
RESULTS
mood control produced ironic effects under load
(trying not to be sad, made people sad)
While You Were Sleeping
Try to Sleep:
Wegner et al. (1993)
• play cassette when you get into bed
• narrator
sleep as quickly as you can
sleep whenever you want
• rest of the tape - cognitive load
New Age music or brass band
• time taken to get to sleep
Sleeping Beauty
35
30
25
20
new age
brass band
15
10
5
0
don't try
try to sleep
The Putt and the Pendulum:
Wegner et al. (1998)
Tasks
• Task 1 - Chevreul’s Pendulum
don’t move on forbidden axis
digit rehearsal or control
• Task 2 - Putt
don’t overshoot the hole
digit rehearsal or control
RESULTS
ironic actions under conditions of load
Suppressing Stereotypes:
Ironic Effects
Skinhead Studies:
Macrae et al. (1994)
Irony Reconsidered
• routes to rebound
distractors become reminders (white bear)
attentional depletion (house)
• construct accessibility
frequency of priming
what does the monitor do?
priming - another route to rebound?
Expt 1:
Suppress Your Stereotypes
• Phase 1 - descriptive task - day in the life of a target
suppress stereotypes
no instruction
• Phase 2 - day in the life of a new group member
no instruction
• Measure - rated stereotypicality of the passages
Stereotype Rebound
8
7
6
5
suppress
control
4
3
2
1
0
passage-1
passage-2
But What About Social Behavior?
Expt 2:
Take a Seat
• Phase 1 -
describe day in the life of a target (skinhead)
suppress stereotypes
no instruction
• Phase 2 -
next study (meet the skinhead), empty lab,
take a seat (7 available)
• Measure - social distance
The Significant Buttock!
5.4
5.2
5
4.8
4.6
seat
4.4
4.2
4
3.8
suppress
control
Stereotype Hyperaccessibility
• rebound
with and without resource depletion
• construct priming
accessibility following the relaxation of suppression
intention
monitor in action
Expt 3:
Press a Button
• Phase 1 - describe day in the life of a skinhead
suppress stereotypes
no instruction
• Phase 2 - lexical decision task
accessibility of stereotype
Stereotype Accessibility
800
700
600
500
400
accessibility
300
200
100
0
baseline
control
suppress
Other Ironic Effects:
Suppression is Effortful
• forming impression of others
categorical plus individuating material
individuation is effortful (Fiske & Neuberg, 1990)
suppression is effortful (Wegner, 1994)
• suppressing stereotypes
which information is remembered
Form an Impression:
Macrae et al. (1996)
• form impression of skinhead (audiotaped description)
suppress stereotype
no instruction
stereotypic content - high, low, none
• probe-reaction task (turn off the light)
multiple-choice test about target
Probe Performance
1200
1000
800
suppress
control
600
400
200
0
none
low
high
Target Knowledge
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
suppress
control
none
low
high
Expt 2:
Suppression and Memory
• form impression of elderly man (videotape)
suppress stereotype
no instruction
material - stereotypic and neutral
• memory tested after delay of 7 days
Target Recollections
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
suppress
control
neutral
stereotypic
Issues:
Moderating Influences on Stereotype Suppression
• perceiver characteristics
prejudice level (Monteith et al. 1997)
• nature of the stereotype (Monteith et al. 1997)
race/gender/sexual orientation vs. skinheads
• motivation (Plant & Devine, 1997)
• practice (Wegner, 1994)
Things Worth Knowing
1.
Wegner’s (1994) model of mental control.
2.
The nature of post-suppression rebound effects.