The Cognitive Underpinnings of Addiction

Author： Bowler Jennifer L. Bowler Mark C. James Lawrence R.

ISSN： 1082-6084

Source： Substance Use & Misuse, Vol.46, Iss.8, 2011-05, pp. : 1060-1071

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Abstract

A new conditional reasoning measure was developed to evaluate the role of implicit biases in perpetuating addictive behavior. Data (N == 669) were collected in 2005 from two samples in a suburban area: individuals with a known history of chemical dependency and individuals from the general population. Results indicated a strong correlation between overall test scores and group membership (r_pb == .48), which increased when the groups’’ demographic characteristics were equalized (r_pb == .65). Overall, findings suggest that addiction-prone individuals rely on a distinct set of cognitive biases that rationalize self-destructive behavior. The study's limitations are noted and implications and directions for future research are discussed.