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Why We Get Distracted When We're Trying to Concentrate

Ever tried not to think about something, only to have it consume your thoughts? Daniel Wegner's famous "white bear" experiment explains this phenomenon. When participants were told not to think about white bears, they couldn't help but do so. Wegner's ironic process theory suggests that when we try to suppress a thought, part of our mind avoids it while another part periodically checks if we're thinking about it—ironically bringing it to mind. This explains why we often get distracted by the very things we're trying to ignore. Understanding this can help us develop better strategies for focus, like choosing engaging distractions or practicing mindfulness or other tools to strengthen our mental control.

 
 
 

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