Introduction

In her recent post, “Addiction - an overview”, @abigail-dantes provides a brief overview and explanation of addiction through some of the lenses offered to us by the different schools of Psychology.

In this post I want to look at some of the cognitive (mental) factors that make it difficult for addicts to stop their self-destructive behaviour. Although my post will lean more towards substance related addictions the information is pertinent to addiction as a whole. One of the worst aspects of addiction is the addict’s awareness of their own physical and emotional breakdown, and powerlessness over stopping it. With that in mind, let's continue to discuss why people struggle to break the bonds of addiction.

The collective experiences of addiction are often related as overwhelming feelings of shame, guilt, hopelessness and powerlessness over the addiction. Step one of Narcotics Anonymous entail addicts admitting that they are powerless over their addictions and that their lives have become unmanageable. The common theme I identify in addiction revolves around handing over sound-mind and accepting irrational thoughts in return. This process is difficult to reverse, especially in “hardened” addicts.

Why is this so?

Cognitive psychology offers some explanations as to why the chains of addiction can, at times, appear unbreakable. Because cognitive psychology is interested in how the mind works, most of these models relate to thinking, perception and how the outside world is personally interpreted.

Cognitive Heuristics

Firstly, we can look at one mental processes that may strengthen addictive behaviour. Cognitive heuristics refer to mental shortcuts individuals use to help solve problems and make quick decisions and judgements. When people feel overwhelmed, they rely on cognitive heuristics to help ease their burden and discomfort (Nevid, 2008). The problem, when relating cognitive heuristics to addiction, is that they replace rational thought, analysis and reflective thinking with an ‘autopilot mode’.

Cognitive heuristics diminish critical, objective and analytical thinking. The possibility exists that addicts prefer heuristics because critical reflection would directly oppose (and judge) their addictive behaviours. Heuristics become a form of coping: to decrease the stress associated with addiction people repress or even blatantly deny their addictions and the consequences thereof.

Studies show that addicts are emotionally immature compared to non-addicts (Besharat et al, 2012). If people resort to using cognitive heuristics when they feel overwhelmed, then addicts are undeniably susceptible to this simplified way of thinking. Addiction, with its associated stresses, along with emotional immaturity, primitive defence mechanisms (like denial) and low emotion regulation (struggle to control emotion) may lead addicts to rely on cognitive heuristics to see them through a day (Besharat). This can be a challenge to recovery without the necessary therapeutic intervention and relevant support structures in place.

Cognitive dissonance:

Addiction (substance / non-substance related) and associated behaviour necessitate addicts to go into a sort of ‘’self-induced insanity’’: lies, judgements and hypocrisy are necessary components of an addiction (narcanon.org, n.d). Because addiction challenges socially appropriate and acceptable behaviour, the chasm between logical reasoning and these behaviours becomes increasingly big. A chasm is created where within many flawed ideas and beliefs find their origin. They are necessary for a person to justify addictive behaviour.

Cognitive dissonance may explain why addicts avoid confronting their own behaviours. Dissonance (feelings extreme discomfort) result when a person entertains two opposing ideas. Dissonance may be enhanced when these ideas are in direct opposition to behaviour (or vice versa: when behaviour contradicts ideas). (Tavris, 2007)

And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee - Nietzsche.

A person knows that heroin abuse can be fatal yet continues to ‘shoot up‘. (A clear contradiction between ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’). The heroin addict is thus fully aware of potential consequences but actively chooses to continue the act. Because the compulsion to use may overpower reason and in order to avoid the intense negative feelings associated with dissonance, a person may change their thoughts to agree with and support their behaviours (Baron, 1991).

Dissonance has the potential to keep people in addiction because thought patterns are shifted from terrifying realizations and motivators to abstain from use, to justifying it. Once a person starts believing their own lies, confirmation bias (only filtering in ideas that support beliefs) may strengthen these lies (Nickerson, 1998). A person slowly builds a personality and identity that supports addiction and irrational thoughts. This beliefs may prove a challenge to revert.

Cognitive distortions:

The idea of ‘self-induced insanity’ (mentioned under cognitive dissonance) relates to the concept of cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are flawed or delusional thoughts that distort one’s perception of reality. Because logical thoughts and addictive behaviour clash, cognitive distortions are created to appease the inconsistencies. Many primitive (negative or maladaptive) defence mechanisms are created in this process. A person may repress logical thoughts, or blatantly deny that he /she has a problem.

"If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it". Joseph Goebbels

Furthermore, distortions have the potential to become habitual. Addiction is sometimes labelled a progressive disease or disorder because, without intervention or treatment, it becomes progressively worse. Because most addictive behaviours are frowned upon, the shame and guilt associated with them require distortions that can justify a person’s addiction to themselves and others (Grohol, 2009).

An example of a distortion is minimization: trying to make one's behaviour and the consequences thereof, to be less than it is (denying severity). In this sense, distortions create alternate realities that supports addiction. The most obscene concepts or ideas are entertained and allowed. Addiction seems to be, at times, one big cognitive distortion.

In conclusion:

If we look at some of the ideas mentioned here it becomes apparent why a lot of addicts struggle to stop using. Despite the addictive qualities and life-threatening (and unbearable) withdrawals associated with substances, cognition may play a big part in hindering recovery. When thoughts and ideas become so delusional that they support and defend addiction, help offered will be scoffed at.

Step 1 of NA / AA highlights the importance of this by by stating “we admit that we are powerless over our addictions(...)” (Brande, 2013). Only when a person admits to the latter can help be offered. Although many addicts that live in recovery prove that there is a life free from the bondage of addiction, this post should highlight the challenges that accompany the transformation of mind needed to do so. The three models of cognitive- heuristics, dissonance and distortions subdue and oppress addicts under negative and delusional thoughts.

Sources:

Baron, A & Byrne, D. (1997). Social Psychology: Understanding Human Interaction. 6th Ed.

Besharat MA, Ghafouri B, Rostami R. (2012). Comparison of attachment styles and emotional maturity between opiate addicts and non-addicts. Annals of Biological Research. 3(1):409–14. 21.

Brande, L. (2013) About the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12-Step Recovery Program. Recovery.org. [accessed on: 2018/02/28]

Grohol, John (2009). "15 Common Cognitive Distortions". PsychCentral.com. [accessed on: 2018/02/28].

Nickerson, R. S. (1998). Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises. Review of General Psychology, 2, 175-220.

Nevid, J. S. (2008). Psychology: Concepts and Applications. Cengage Learning. p. 251.

Tavris, C.; Aronson, E. (2007). Mistakes were made (but not by me): Why we justify foolish beliefs, bad decisions, and hurtful acts. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.

Why Do Addicts Lie and Manipulate? (n.d) Retrieved from: www.narconon.org/blog/drug-addiction/why-do-addicts-lie-and-manipulate. [accessed on: 2018/02/28]

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