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Judgments about illegal performance-enhancing substances: reasoned, reactive, or both?
Tonya Dodge1, Michelle Stock, Dana Litt
1The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. tdodge@gwu.edu
Journal of Health Psychology
|October 3, 2012
Summary
The belief that illegal substances are more effective increases willingness to use them. However, this heuristic did not significantly predict intentions to use illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Area of Science:
- Sport Science
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Understanding the psychological drivers behind illegal performance-enhancing substance (IPES) use is crucial for effective prevention.
- Existing models like the Theory of Reasoned Action and Prototype/Willingness model offer frameworks for examining behavioral intentions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of the illegal-is-effective heuristic on IPES use willingness.
- To examine the roles of attitudes, norms, and prototypes in predicting willingness and intentions to use IPES.
Main Methods:
- Applied the Theory of Reasoned Action and Prototype/Willingness model.
- Investigated the illegal-is-effective heuristic's impact on IPES use.
- Assessed the influence of attitudes, norms, and prototypes on willingness and intentions.
Main Results:
- The illegal-is-effective heuristic significantly predicted willingness to use IPES.
- The illegal-is-effective heuristic did not significantly predict intentions to use IPES.
- Attitudes, norms, and prototypes showed varying degrees of influence on willingness and intentions (specifics not detailed in abstract).
Conclusions:
- The belief in the superior effectiveness of illegal substances is a key factor in willingness to use them.
- Prevention strategies targeting the illegal-is-effective heuristic may be important for reducing IPES use.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the interplay of cognitive factors and IPES intentions.
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