Cognitive Dissonance: Theory, Examples & How to Reduce It

By September 23, 2021July 24th, 2024Sober living

cognitive dissonance and addiction

If you would like to address any self-limiting thoughts and beliefs that might be holding you back in your recovery or if you would like help with an addiction – the team at Tikvah Lake Recovery are here to help. However, the addict must start with a clean slate or “beginner’s mind” for the methods in cognitive dissonance and addiction therapy to be effective. All this involves putting aside any previously held beliefs that may have been limiting or self-destructive in any way. Fortunately, there is a wide range of treatment options available for addicts with Cognitive Dissonance such as therapy and residential treatment programs.

LEARNING IN THE MIND AND BRAIN

  • For example, when people smoke (behavior) and they know that smoking causes cancer (cognition), they are in a state of cognitive dissonance.
  • Importantly also, these distortions have been shown to relate positively to symptoms of depression, meaning that where cognitive distortions abound, symptoms of depression are likely to occur (Burns et al., 1987).
  • There are a variety of ways people are thought to resolve the sense of dissonance when cognitions don’t seem to fit together.
  • Prior studies on pan-entertainment mobile live broadcast platforms have focused on various aspects, such as user engagement [26], retention [27], broadcasting intention [28], gifting behavior [29], and comment motivation [30].
  • First, in order to effectively meet the needs of users, platform designers should adopt a user-centered approach when optimizing the service function structure.

However, new information such as “research has not proved definitely that smoking causes lung cancer” may reduce the dissonance. For example, thinking smoking causes lung cancer will cause dissonance if a person smokes. Because these participants did not make a decision, they did not have any dissonance to reduce. Individuals in the low-dissonance group chose between a desirable product and one rated 3 points lower on an 8-pointscale. This offers opportunities to discuss the discrepancies, deepen the relationship, and re-align values. Conversely, we may justify or trivialize negative behavior or even end the relationship.

Emotional Reasoning

Fourth, the behavioral theory was introduced into self-determination theory to integrate the effects of subjective norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control on discontinuous usage [17]. Fifth, some researchers have explored how affective factors, such as frustration and dissatisfaction, may impact users’ information avoidance intention, leading to discontinuous usage [36,37]. Challenging stressors stimulate self-efficacy, whereas hindering stressors reduce individual self-efficacy; high self-efficacy promotes usage intention https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-spiritual-malady-means/ and low self-efficacy reduces behavioral motivation [46]. The moderating effect of self-efficacy on users’ continuance intention has been demonstrated in financial technology [47], indicating the correlation between mood disorders and continuance intention and the mediating role mechanism [48] of self-efficacy. Second, a study found that users’ self-efficacy in managing information overload was negatively related to cognitive dissonance and positively related to continuous usage intention in social media platforms [65].

Cognitive strategies in managing addictive behaviours

cognitive dissonance and addiction

He also attended Cal Poly University where he studied behavioral science, mathematics and science. At Elevate, we consider and employ various therapies throughout our holistic approach to mind-body-spirit addiction recovery treatment. Often, group therapy nurtures the beginner’s mind because it provides the opportunity to build relationships with and learn from others in both similar and different stages of recovery. Group therapy, for example, enhances recovery by tapping into one’s natural social instincts.

The difference between those who occasionally stumble into a cognitive distortion and those who struggle with them on a more long-term basis is the ability to identify and modify or correct these faulty patterns of thinking. This verse highlights the idea of being “double-minded,” which can be seen as a form of cognitive dissonance where a person is torn between conflicting thoughts or actions. The verse suggests that such inner conflict can lead to instability in one’s actions and decisions in their everyday life. Cognitive dissonance can take on various forms, each influenced by the specific context and conflicting beliefs or attitudes at play.

  • There are many others who have picked up the torch for this research, often with their own take on cognitive distortions.
  • To hear more about Burns’ work in the treatment of depression, check out his TED talk on the subject below.
  • These distortions, while common and potentially extremely damaging, are not something we must simply resign ourselves to living with.
  • All this might explain why certain concepts and ideas appear rational to some people and entirely irrational for others (such as an addict’s ability to justify their excessive drinking).
  • Research into the changes in cognition that accompany addiction and the neural substrates of learning and addiction is still in its infancy but has potential to reshape views on addiction.

DRUGS OF ABUSE AND THE DEVELOPING BRAIN

cognitive dissonance and addiction

Drinking, the majority fallacy, cognitive dissonance and social pressure

The Formation of Drug-Stimulus Associations

cognitive dissonance and addiction

  • The human brain continues to develop and consolidate important neural pathways from the prenatal period through adolescence.
  • Pan-entertainment mobile live broadcast users experience information overload, service overload, and user addiction, leading to cognitive dissonance and resulting in discontinuous usage intention.
  • The mental filter can foster a decidedly pessimistic view of everything around you by focusing only on the negative.
  • Relapse prevention (RP) is a cognitive behavioural treatment program, based on the relapse prevention model27,28.

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