Emotionally, individuals may feel guilt, shame, or anxiety as a result of their addictive behaviors conflicting with their personal values. Cognitively, they may experience internal debates and justifications, which further exacerbate the psychological struggle. Cognitive dissonance can reinforce addictive behaviors by creating a mental framework that justifies continued substance abuse.
- It’s a mental tug-of-war that can leave individuals feeling trapped and hopeless.
- One-on-one therapy is particularly effective in addressing cognitive dissonance and helping individuals shift their beliefs and behaviors.
- An individual progresses through various stages of changes and the movement is influenced by several factors.
Providing Addiction Treatment to Those in:
CBT belongs to a family of interventions that are focused on the identification and modification of dysfunctional cognitions in order to modify negative emotions and behaviours. “Rather cognitive dissonance and addiction than experience the painful feelings of believing one thing but saying another, these individuals actually changed their opinion and convinced themselves that the task was actually very interesting. In other words, their attitude was shaped by their behavior (lying)” (Cooper and Carlsmith, 2002).
Dissonance-Based Therapy
During this conversation, our matching expert will collaborate with you to understand your therapy needs, preferences, and scheduling availability. This discussion builds upon the information you provided during sign-up and offers an opportunity for you to address any personal questions or concerns you may have about therapy or our services at The Bay Area CBT Center. Following your conversation, we’ll pair you with the Substance abuse therapist who best aligns with your needs, goals, and preferences.
3. Cognitive Dissonance Theory
The model incorporates the stages of change proposed by Procahska, DiClement and Norcross (1992) and treatment principles are based on social-cognitive theories11,29,30. Treatment options for individuals experiencing cognitive dissonance in addiction include therapy, residential treatment programs, and intervention planning services. One-on-one therapy is particularly effective in addressing cognitive dissonance and helping individuals shift their beliefs and behaviors. Understanding the impact of cognitive dissonance on recovery provides valuable insights for addiction treatment facilities and professionals like those at Lantana. By recognizing and addressing cognitive dissonance, therapists can effectively guide individuals toward overcoming their internal conflicts and achieving lasting recovery.
Planning a cognitive behavioural programme
Craving distorts addicts’ ability to process information in a manner that promotes drug use. For example, while craving, the decision to smoke just one cigarette is viewed in a more favorable light. The smoker may focus on more accommodating belief (e.g., “smoking cannot be very dangerous”).
However, it’s crucial to remember that addressing cognitive dissonance in addiction isn’t a DIY project. Trained therapists and addiction specialists can help individuals navigate the complex terrain of their thoughts and behaviors, providing tools and support to resolve cognitive dissonance and move towards recovery. These mental contortions are the brain’s way of trying to reconcile conflicting beliefs and behaviors. It’s a coping mechanism, albeit a maladaptive one, that allows the individual to continue their addictive behavior while minimizing the psychological distress caused by their actions. Become a part of the solution by educating yourself about how to aid those in recovery. If you are struggling with the development of an addiction and have experienced this kind of cognitive dissonance, then get in touch with The Bergand Group.
You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida. After living with cognitive dissonance for so long, it will take you some effort to break those thought patterns and concentrate on your newly healthy lifestyle. Cognitive dissonance makes it significantly more challenging to deal with cravings and triggers, which is why developing healthy coping skills is so crucial for your substance-free life. Joining support groups allows individuals to connect with others facing similar challenges. Sharing experiences and learning from others’ journeys can provide valuable insights and reduce the isolation that often accompanies cognitive dissonance.
- Abusers exploit this psychological tension by shifting blame using DARVO, gaslighting, and offering intermittent reinforcement—pushing their victims toward emotion regulation strategies that justify, rather than challenge, the abuse.
- Specific training steps to suit patients in the Indian setting have been described16,17.
- Third wave behaviour therapies are focused on improving building awareness, and distress tolerance skills using mindfulness practices.
- Decision-making often involves internal conflicts, especially when the choices involve significant trade-offs.
Author Services
While this study gives us some interesting insights into how we will adjust our thoughts to create a more comfortable mental state, how does this theory actually play out in the real world? One area of human behavior where we can see examples of cognitive dissonance at work is the arena of addiction and addiction treatment. He utilizes positive psychology as much as possible during his counseling sessions. Positive psychology is a treatment approach that believes all people want to lead fulfilling and meaningful personal and professional lives. The long-term consequences of unresolved cognitive dissonance in addiction are far-reaching and profound.
