Mechanics of Mind Control

Mind Control: Dual Processes

• Wegner (1994)Wegner (1994)

mental control and its ironies flow from the mental control and its ironies flow from the operation operation of a simple mechanism: the interplay of an of a simple mechanism: the interplay of an

intentional operating processintentional operating process and and an an ironic ironic monitoring processmonitoring process..

• CyberneticsCybernetics

Wiener (1948)Wiener (1948) noted that it takes 2 processes to noted that it takes 2 processes to control anything at all.control anything at all.

Is the Mind Like a Thermostat?

Dynamics of Control

• control involves changing something to a certain criterion, control involves changing something to a certain criterion, thus processes are needed to provide both the change and thus processes are needed to provide both the change and the assessment of success in reaching the criterion.the assessment of success in reaching the criterion.

• Miller, Galanter, & Pribram (1960) - TOTEMiller, Galanter, & Pribram (1960) - TOTE

goal-directed behavior is the result of 2 processes: goal-directed behavior is the result of 2 processes: the the operateoperate and and testtest mechanisms in a test-operate-test- mechanisms in a test-operate-test-

exit (TOTE) unit - mind as a thermostat!exit (TOTE) unit - mind as a thermostat!

Wegner’s Theory of Mental Control

• the two processes underlying mental control are the two processes underlying mental control are cognitive cognitive search processessearch processes that increase the accessibility of stimuli. that increase the accessibility of stimuli. Each process is an Each process is an attentional processattentional process that orients the that orients the system toward a particular set of inputs.system toward a particular set of inputs.

• the 2 processes differ with respect to their:the 2 processes differ with respect to their:

(a) target search, (b) degree of consciousness(a) target search, (b) degree of consciousness

(c) attentional demands, (d) conditions of (c) attentional demands, (d) conditions of activationactivation

Operating Process

• search targetsearch target

the desire for a mental state creates an operating the desire for a mental state creates an operating process that seeks items consistent with that process that seeks items consistent with that

state state (e.g., (e.g., concentrationconcentration). The desire to avoid a ). The desire to avoid a mental mental state (e.g., state (e.g., suppressionsuppression) creates an operating ) creates an operating process process that seeks items inconsistent with that state. that seeks items inconsistent with that state. Thus, the Thus, the operator looks for distractors in an attempt operator looks for distractors in an attempt to provide to provide mental control.mental control.

• consciousnessconsciousness

the operating process is present in consciousness. It the operating process is present in consciousness. It is is the ‘subjective’ feeling of doing in mental life.the ‘subjective’ feeling of doing in mental life.

• effortfulnesseffortfulness

the operating process is an effortful (i.e., the operating process is an effortful (i.e., controlled) controlled) mental process (i.e, it demands attentional mental process (i.e, it demands attentional resources resources - Bargh, 1989; Hasher & Zacks, 1979; - Bargh, 1989; Hasher & Zacks, 1979; Posner & Posner & Snyder, 1975; Shiffrin & Schneider, Snyder, 1975; Shiffrin & Schneider, 1977). As an 1977). As an effortful mental activity, it is effortful mental activity, it is vulnerable to competing vulnerable to competing task demands.task demands.

• activationactivation

The operating process is activated by the The operating process is activated by the monitoring monitoring process. Whenever the monitor is satisfied process. Whenever the monitor is satisfied that a that a failure of the intentional operation has been failure of the intentional operation has been found, found, the operating process is implemented. Thus, the operating process is implemented. Thus, the the operator is a non-continuous process, it operator is a non-continuous process, it occurs occurs cyclically in response to failure.cyclically in response to failure.

Monitoring Process

• search targetsearch targetthe monitoring process searches for indications of the monitoring process searches for indications of

the the failure of mental control (i.e., it searches for the failure of mental control (i.e., it searches for the unwanted thought, impulse, or memory). unwanted thought, impulse, or memory).

Thus, the Thus, the monitor reviews potentially monitor reviews potentially conscious material. A conscious material. A search attuned for failure is search attuned for failure is uncomplicated as it needs uncomplicated as it needs only to hold a single only to hold a single template against which input can template against which input can be compared.be compared.

• disabling the monitor (Luria, 1966)disabling the monitor (Luria, 1966)• frontal lobe dysfunction (Stuss & Benson, 1987)frontal lobe dysfunction (Stuss & Benson, 1987)

• consciousnessconsciousness

during mental control attempts, the monitoring during mental control attempts, the monitoring process is usually not reflected in conscious process is usually not reflected in conscious

thought. thought.

• effortfulnesseffortfulness

the monitoring process is less effortful than the the monitoring process is less effortful than the operating process, thus it is less likely to be operating process, thus it is less likely to be

disturbed disturbed by concurrent tasks.by concurrent tasks.

• activationactivation

the monitoring process is activated by the initiation the monitoring process is activated by the initiation of of mental control. Once the intention to control the mental control. Once the intention to control the mind mind is implemented, the monitoring process runs is implemented, the monitoring process runs

continuously until the intention is relaxed.continuously until the intention is relaxed.

Conditions of Irony

• intention to control must be presentintention to control must be present

• competition for attentional resourcescompetition for attentional resources

alcoholalcohol

stressstress

cognitive loadcognitive load

• dual-tasks and mental controldual-tasks and mental control

Don’t Think About?Wegner & Erber (1992)

Task

• word association taskword association task• think about or don’t think about housethink about or don’t think about house• respond with associaterespond with associate

home_______home_______• manipulation of cognitive loadmanipulation of cognitive load

time pressure or no pressuretime pressure or no pressure

RESULTSRESULTSunder time pressure, suppressors responded with under time pressure, suppressors responded with

the the forbidden item (i.e., house)forbidden item (i.e., house)

Rebound and Hyperaccessibility:Wegner et al. (1993)

• Stroop TaskStroop Task

• suppress or concentrate on housesuppress or concentrate on house

• report color of ink - report color of ink - househouse kettlekettle

• manipulation of cognitive loadmanipulation of cognitive load

digit rehearsal or control (within subjects)digit rehearsal or control (within subjects)

RESULTSRESULTS

on high-load trials, suppressors showed impaired colour on high-load trials, suppressors showed impaired colour naming to target item (hence hyperaccessible)naming to target item (hence hyperaccessible)

Mood Control:Wegner et al. (1993)

• recall either happy or sad life eventrecall either happy or sad life eventsad event (try not to be sad, no instruction, be sad)sad event (try not to be sad, no instruction, be sad)happy event (try not to be happy, no instruction, be happy event (try not to be happy, no instruction, be happy)happy)

• manipulation of loadmanipulation of loaddigit rehearsal or control (between subjects)digit rehearsal or control (between subjects)

RESULTSRESULTSmood control produced ironic effects under load mood control produced ironic effects under load (trying not to be sad, made people sad) (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 bedplay cassette when you get into bed

• narratornarrator

sleep as quickly as you cansleep as quickly as you can

sleep whenever you wantsleep whenever you want

• rest of the tape - cognitive loadrest of the tape - cognitive load

New Age music or brass bandNew Age music or brass band

• time taken to get to sleeptime taken to get to sleep

Sleeping Beauty

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

don't try try to sleep

new agebrass band

The Putt and the Pendulum:Wegner et al. (1998)

Tasks

• Task 1 - Chevreul’s PendulumTask 1 - Chevreul’s Pendulum

don’t move on forbidden axisdon’t move on forbidden axis

digit rehearsal or controldigit rehearsal or control

• Task 2 - PuttTask 2 - Putt

don’t overshoot the holedon’t overshoot the hole

digit rehearsal or controldigit rehearsal or control

RESULTSRESULTS

ironic actions under conditions of loadironic actions under conditions of load

Suppressing Stereotypes:Ironic Effects

Skinhead Studies:Macrae et al. (1994)

Irony Reconsidered

• routes to reboundroutes to rebound

distractors become reminders (white bear)distractors become reminders (white bear)

attentional depletion (house)attentional depletion (house)

• construct accessibilityconstruct accessibility

frequency of primingfrequency of priming

what does the monitor do?what does the monitor do?

priming - another route to rebound?priming - another route to rebound?

Expt 1:Suppress Your Stereotypes

• Phase 1Phase 1 - descriptive task - day in the life of a target - descriptive task - day in the life of a target

suppress stereotypessuppress stereotypes

no instructionno instruction

• Phase 2Phase 2 - day in the life of a new group member - day in the life of a new group member

no instructionno instruction

• Measure - rated stereotypicality of the passagesMeasure - rated stereotypicality of the passages

Stereotype Rebound

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passage-1 passage-2

suppresscontrol

But What About Social Behavior?

Expt 2:Take a Seat

• Phase 1Phase 1 - - describe day in the life of a target describe day in the life of a target (skinhead)(skinhead)

suppress stereotypessuppress stereotypes

no instructionno instruction

• Phase 2Phase 2 - - next study (meet the skinhead), empty lab, next study (meet the skinhead), empty lab, take a seat (7 available)take a seat (7 available)

• Measure - Measure - social distancesocial distance

The Significant Buttock!

3.8

4

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.8

5

5.2

5.4

suppress control

seat

Stereotype Hyperaccessibility

• reboundrebound

with and without resource depletionwith and without resource depletion

• construct primingconstruct priming

accessibility following the relaxation of accessibility following the relaxation of suppressionsuppression

intentionintention

monitor in actionmonitor in action

Expt 3:Press a Button

• Phase 1Phase 1 - describe day in the life of a skinhead - describe day in the life of a skinhead

suppress stereotypessuppress stereotypes

no instructionno instruction

• Phase 2Phase 2 - lexical decision task - lexical decision task

accessibility of stereotypeaccessibility of stereotype

Stereotype Accessibility

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

baseline control suppress

accessibility

Other Ironic Effects:Suppression is Effortful

• forming impression of othersforming impression of others

categorical plus individuating materialcategorical plus individuating material

individuation is effortful (Fiske & Neuberg, 1990)individuation is effortful (Fiske & Neuberg, 1990)

suppression is effortful (Wegner, 1994)suppression is effortful (Wegner, 1994)

• suppressing stereotypessuppressing stereotypes

which information is rememberedwhich information is remembered

Form an Impression:Macrae et al. (1996)

• form impression of skinhead (audiotaped description)form impression of skinhead (audiotaped description)

suppress stereotypesuppress stereotype

no instructionno instruction

stereotypic content - high, low, nonestereotypic content - high, low, none

• probe-reaction task (turn off the light)probe-reaction task (turn off the light)

multiple-choice test about targetmultiple-choice test about target

Probe Performance

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none low high

suppresscontrol

Target Knowledge

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none low high

suppresscontrol

Expt 2:Suppression and Memory

• form impression of elderly man (videotape)form impression of elderly man (videotape)

suppress stereotypesuppress stereotype

no instructionno instruction

material - stereotypic and neutralmaterial - stereotypic and neutral

• memory tested after delay of 7 daysmemory tested after delay of 7 days

Target Recollections

Issues:Moderating Influences on Stereotype Suppression

• perceiver characteristicsperceiver characteristics

prejudice level (Monteith et al. 1997)prejudice level (Monteith et al. 1997)

• nature of the stereotype (Monteith et al. 1997)nature of the stereotype (Monteith et al. 1997)

race/gender/sexual orientation vs. skinheadsrace/gender/sexual orientation vs. skinheads

• motivation (Plant & Devine, 1997)motivation (Plant & Devine, 1997)

• practice (Wegner, 1994)practice (Wegner, 1994)

Things Worth Knowing

1.1. Wegner’s (1994) model of mental control.Wegner’s (1994) model of mental control.

2.2. The nature of post-suppression rebound effects.The nature of post-suppression rebound effects.