WHY INTENTIONAL MENTAL CONTROL PRODUCES COUNTERINTENTIONAL EFFECTS? (I). THEORIES AND DATA

ABSTRACT

Counterintentional error is an effect opposite to but initiated by an intention to control a state of mind or behaviour. Our study is divided in two parts. First part contains a collection of experimental and anecdotal evidences documenting the existence of counterintentional effects. Then we undertake a critical analysis of D. Wegner's theory of "ironic mental control", which is pretending to explain the occurrence of counterintentional errors and we propose an alternative theory. Our main tenets are that counterintentional effects are mainly determined by deficient inhibitory mechanisms and low self-efficacy. Some neurocognitive consequences of our theory are outlined. The second part of the study is dedicated to experimental scrutiny of our theory.

KEYWORDS: counterintentional effect, intentional forgetting, cognitive inhibition