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How people understand intrusive thoughts

Purpose

This short survey explores how people generally understand intrusive, unwanted thoughts that feel disturbing or go against someone’s values. There are no right or wrong answers. The survey should take less than five minutes to complete. We are interested in your honest views.
Please answer based on what you believe is true about people in general, not about yourself or anyone specific.

Beliefs about intrusive thoughts

Having a disturbing or unacceptable thought usually means something is wrong with a person.

Having a disturbing or unacceptable thought usually means something is wrong with a person.
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G

Unwanted thoughts often say more about what a person fears than about what they want.

Unwanted thoughts often say more about what a person fears than about what they want.
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G

Most people have thoughts that feel shocking, disturbing, or completely at odds with their values at times.

Most people have thoughts that feel shocking, disturbing, or completely at odds with their values at times.
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G

Feeling disgusted or distressed by a thought is a sign that the thought does not reflect who the person really is.

Feeling disgusted or distressed by a thought is a sign that the thought does not reflect who the person really is.
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G

Thoughts, responsibility and control

People should judge themselves based on their actions, not on thoughts they didn’t choose.

People should judge themselves based on their actions, not on thoughts they didn’t choose.
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G

Trying very hard to suppress or get rid of certain thoughts can actually make them more persistent.

Trying very hard to suppress or get rid of certain thoughts can actually make them more persistent.
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G

Final perspective questions

If someone I knew was deeply distressed by intrusive thoughts and worked hard to prevent harm, I would see this as a sign of strong values rather than a flaw in their character.

If someone I knew was deeply distressed by intrusive thoughts and worked hard to prevent harm, I would see this as a sign of strong values rather than a flaw in their character.
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H

In one sentence, how would you describe what intrusive thoughts say about a person?