How does self-deception work in addictions?

This is how self-deception works to keep an addiction alive through cognitive dissonance.

Anyone who has worked with addictions (or lived with a family member with addictions) knows the extent to which a person can self-deceive in order to continue using drugs.

In this article I am going to explain what cognitive dissonance is, why it is a very important concept to understand how addictions work, and I am going to give you some examples of it.and I will give you examples of how this phenomenon occurs among people with different types of addictions.

What is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon coined by psychologist Leon Festinger back in 1957. This term refers to the psychological conflict a person faces when confronted with information that challenges his or her already established beliefs.. That is, when faced with information that casts doubt on what they already believe in.

Many popularizers, such as the brilliant psychologist Ramón Nogueras, have pointed out how cognitive dissonance explains fake news, anti-vaccine movements or the fact that victims of cults refuse to leave them.

How cognitive dissonance affects self-deception in people with addictions

When a person develops dependence towards a substance or behavior, will tend to filter reality in such a way as to justify his or her actions.

For example, when reminded by a family member that he or she is drinking too much, a common response by a person with alcoholism might be "there are many people who drink just as much or more than I do" or "my grandfather drank alcohol every day all his life and lived for many years" or "you just hate it when I have fun."

To people watching, the signs of addiction will be obvious, except to the person him/herself. Self-deception is a defense mechanism to avoid shame or fear of acknowledging loss of control in one's life.

In addition, no one would like to admit that they have wasted part of their life, their money, their health or their relationships for something that also makes them feel like a slave to their own self..

Therefore, cognitive dissonance will cause the person to erect mental barriers to any evidence that he has an addiction problem. They will reject any information that calls into question their current view of the world.They will use all their imagination to continue with their destructive habits.

Cognitive dissonance among people with marijuana addiction.

The case of cannabis users is very curious. Since the popularization of this drug in the western world in the 60's and 70's of the last century, a multitude of communities of marijuana enthusiasts have developed, a multitude of communities of marijuana enthusiasts have developed.. They even have a day (April 20) to celebrate their love for marijuana, a movement known as 420.

When someone starts using cannabis (in the form of marijuana, hashish or otherwise) they are met with a worldwide community of consumers who deny the harmful effects of this drug, and only pay attention to the potential benefits of the drug.. They share advice on self-cultivation of marijuana, on the different varieties and promote a lifestyle around the regular consumption of this drug.

This is the perfect example of cognitive dissonance among people with drug dependence, because when their family members, their partner or even psychologists confront them pointing out how extreme marijuana use is destroying their lives, they will defend their use with arguments such as:

• "It's a soft drug, it has no danger."
• "It doesn't cause addiction, it's not like other drugs."
• "I know people who have been Smoking daily for years, and they are doing fine."
• "If marijuana were dangerous, they wouldn't be legalizing it in other countries."

Y most of these arguments will have been backed up by the 420 "community," which spreads all sorts of hoaxes about the supposed benefits of marijuana use (and ignoring the serious problems of addiction or psychosis suffered by thousands of people around the world).

Let's not forget either that the marijuana business moves a lot of money, between merchandising, growing paraphernalia, seeds, etc.

As you can see, the person will ignore almost any scientific evidence that is put in front of him, to justify the least uncomfortable story (psychologically speaking).

No one likes to admit that we are wrong, so we will tend to manipulate the information we will tend to manipulate the information so that we are always right.. Cognitive dissonance is one of the many psychological biases we all fall into (psychologists too), but it is more accentuated in certain profiles, especially in people with addictions who do not want to recognize their consumption problem.

Cognitive dissonance among people with tobacco addiction.

Among tobacco smokers, cognitive dissonance can be observed in arguments such as these:

• "If smoking were so bad, it would be illegal."

• "Better to smoke than to get high."

• "I smoke very little, less than X cigarettes a day".

• Cognitive dissonance among people with alcohol addiction.

  Among people with alcohol problems, cognitive dissonance can be observed in arguments such as these:

  • "Everybody drinks."
  • "If you don't drink, you're a boring person."
  • "My father drank all his life and lived many years."

  Dealing with the self-deception of a person with addictions

  As you may have noticed in the different examples, the person with cognitive dissonance will try to minimize the perception of harmThe most important thing is not to humiliate or humiliate the person with addictions, delegitimize the data offered (consider them invalid), change the focus of the conversation, or use the strength of the group/community to justify his or her consumption.

  Most importantly, do not humiliate or disrespect the other person.no matter how wrong we think he or she may be. Many of our arguments will cause rejection in the other person, they will become defensive or even move away from us even more.

  The best thing is to generate conversations from the affection and with a lot of patience. Overcoming an addiction problem is not easy, and acknowledging that we have a problem is not easy either.

  When the person has recognized the problem, you should encourage him/her to go to a professional who can help him/her to take the following steps to overcome the problem. who can help them take the next steps to overcome their addiction.

  My name is Luis Miguel Real, and I am a psychologist specialized in addictions. Contact me and I will give you an appointment online as soon as possible.