Cognitive Defusion Versus Thought Distraction in the Mitigation of Learned Helplessness

Recent research suggests that attempting to avoid unwanted psychological \nevents is maladaptive. Contrastingly, cognitive defusion, which is an \nacceptance-based method for managing unwanted thoughts, may provide a \nplausible alternative. The current study was designed to compare defusion and \nexperiential avoidance as strategies for coping with unwanted thoughts during \na learned helplessness preparation. Before entering the learned helplessness \npreparation, participants were provided with 1 of 3 instructions: defusion, \nexperiential avoidance (via a thought distraction instruction), or control \n(i.e., no instruction). Directly after the learned helplessness preparation, \nparticipants were instructed to attempt a pen-and-paper maze task, where \ntheir completion time was recorded. Results indicated that participants who \nreceived the defusion instruction produced maze times that were significantly \nshorter than the thought distraction and control groups. Results are discussed \nin terms of the efficacy of defusion instructions in the management of unwanted \nthoughts and the maladaptive nature of engaging in experiential avoidance.