Cognitive behavioural interventions in addictive disorders PMC

That slight feeling of discomfort we perceive when noticing this mismatch is called cognitive dissonance. One of the best examples of cognitive dissonance can be found in the Aesop Tale of the Fox and the Grapes. One day a fox is strolling cognitive dissonance and addiction through a forest and he notices some delicious looking grapes. He then realises that these grapes are up too high for him to be able to reach. The fox has the inner conflict of wanting the grapes but not being able to get to them.

For example, the cognitive dissonance you might experience after choosing between two equally appealing options isn’t necessarily destructive unless you choose an option that will cause harm to yourself or someone else over an option that won’t. If both options are equally harmless, changing your beliefs to support the option you chose won’t have any long-term negative impacts. In the study, individuals were asked to perform 30 minutes of a very boring and tedious activity. Then, they had to persuade a waiting study participant that the activity was really very interesting.

4. Self-Efficacy Theory

The results of this study have practical implications for regulating user behavior and optimizing platform services. Self-efficacy regulates motivation, thinking, emotional state, and behavior [45]. Challenging stressors stimulate self-efficacy, whereas hindering stressors reduce individual self-efficacy; high self-efficacy promotes usage intention and low self-efficacy reduces behavioral motivation [46].

• The following section presents a brief overview of some of the major approaches to managing addictive behaviours.
• When faced with two similar choices, we are often left with feelings of dissonance because both options are equally appealing.
• Inconsistent or conflicting beliefs lead to disharmony, which people strive to avoid.
• The article provides an overview of cognitive behavioural approaches to managing addictions.
• Understanding our mechanisms with which we reduce dissonance and recognizing when it occurs are key to making informed and constructive decisions.

Although I didn’t agree with everything I read, I discovered a newfound openness to learning about different ideas and perspectives. However, by challenging my beliefs, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of alternative viewpoints. The understanding and acceptance that other opinions make me better equipped to have a productive dialogue with others that I would have previously shunned or disregarded. Embarking on the quest for truth involves a perpetual examination of our belief system. It is a journey that transcends the notion of reaching a destination; instead, it encompasses the continuous pursuit of understanding. On the tragic day of October 7, 2023, I woke up to the horrifying news of the atrocities committed by the terrorist group Hamas in Israel.

LEARNING IN THE MIND AND BRAIN

Cognitive dissonance plays a role in many value judgments, decisions, and evaluations. Becoming aware of how conflicting beliefs impact the decision-making process is a great way to improve your ability to make faster and more accurate choices. For example, behaving in ways that are not aligned with your personal values may result in intense feelings of discomfort. Your behavior contradicts not just the beliefs you have about the world, but also the beliefs that you have about yourself.

However, cognitive dissonance can also be a tool for personal and social change. Drawing a person’s attention to the dissonance between their behavior and their values may increase their awareness of the inconsistency and empower them to act. 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. For example, a recent discovery that has generated excitement in the addiction field is that smokers who suffered damage to the insula often lost their desire to smoke (Naqvi et al., 2007). The authors of this finding proposed that the insula is involved in the conscious urge to smoke and that therapies that modulate insula function may facilitate smoking cessation.

What Is Cognitive Dissonance Theory?

We understand you might have reached a point where you feel helpless, hopeless or desperate, and we will help you counteract those painful states of mind by meeting you with empathy, compassion and love. At Beach House, you’ll start learning about our curriculum and treatment modalities from the earliest stages of your stay in our intensive outpatient program. As you move through our full continuum of care, your therapist will challenge you to start integrating the new skills you’ve acquired into all aspects of your life. By the time you complete our programming, you should understand the underlying cause of your addiction and be able to spot any unconstructive thoughts and emotions that arise. Cognitive bias is the tendency to process information in the light of our own experiences. Our brains rely on patterns, past experiences, and mental shortcuts to process information quickly.