Inhibition
Inhibition is the ability to inhibit impulses, reactions or information that do not serve a current purpose.
Definition
In cognitive psychology, inhibition is part of executive functions. It allows you not to respond automatically, not to follow every distraction and not to make the first reaction just because it appears. It is important for concentration, emotion regulation, learning and decisions.
Key ideas
- Reaction inhibition
- Attention selection
- Executive control
Practice and life
Before you start working, identify one thing you won't do for 25 minutes, e.g., I won't check my phone. Inhibition is also trained by clear contextual prohibitions.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to confuse inhibition with suppression of emotions. Inhibition is about choosing a response, not pretending the impulse or emotion doesn't exist.
> Most reactions are the result of incorrectly perceived previous experiences, so we should not let ourselves be carried away by them.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What do I need to stop to do what's important?
- What distraction most often captures my attention?
- How to prepare the environment to make braking easier?