Related Experiment Videos
Cognitive motivation and drug use: a 9-year longitudinal study
A W Stacy1, M D Newcomb, P M Bentler
1Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Cognitive motivations predict drug use and abuse over time, supporting expectancy theory. Drug use itself showed limited influence on motivations, with alcohol-specific motivations being a key predictor of problem drug use.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Addiction Science
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Understanding the long-term relationship between cognitive motivations and drug use is crucial for addiction research.
- Existing theories offer competing explanations for the interplay between expectancies and substance use behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive precedence of cognitive motivations on drug use over a 9-year period.
- To evaluate theoretical predictions regarding expectancy-behavior relations from expectancy theory, Skinnerian, and reciprocal determinism perspectives.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking individuals from adolescence to adulthood.
- Operational definition of expectancy constructs as cognitive motivations.
- Evaluation of alternative theoretical predictions concerning expectancy-behavior relationships.
Main Results:
- Cognitive motivations were found to be nonspurious and potentially autonomous influences on drug use and abuse.
- Limited evidence supported the hypothesis that drug use leads to changes in cognitive motivations.
- Expectancy generalization processes were observed, aligning with Rotter's expectancy theory.
- Cognitive motivations for alcohol uniquely predicted problem drug use.
Conclusions:
- Findings support expectancy theory, highlighting cognitive motivations as primary drivers of drug use.
- The bidirectional relationship between drug use and motivations is less pronounced than previously suggested by some theories.
- Alcohol-specific cognitive motivations represent a significant independent risk factor for problematic drug use.