ABSTRACT

Literature has extensively shown that tobacco dependence is negatively associated with motivation to quit smoking. In this research, we aimed to account for this negative relationship by adopting an identity-based framework. More specifically, we hypothesized that tobacco dependence constitutes an identity threat that smokers seek to manage by diminishing their motivation to quit. To assess whether such a mechanism is at work, we used a self-affirmation manipulation across two independent studies that were pooled into one (N = 308). More specifically, we asked daily smokers to report their tobacco dependence prior to manipulating self-affirmation. Then, we assessed their motivation to quit. Results demonstrated that, among high-dependent smokers, those who were self-affirmed reported higher motivation to quit than those who were not. Self-affirmation had no effect among low-dependent smokers. These findings illuminate the idea that an interpretation in terms of identity processes can offer new insights into understanding tobacco dependence and its consequences on smokers’ motivation to quit.

摘要

文献广泛表明，烟草依赖与戒烟动机负相关。在本研究中，我们旨在通过采用基于身份的框架来解决这种负面关系。更具体地说，我们假设烟草依赖构成了吸烟者通过减少其戒烟动机而试图应对的一种身份威胁。为了评估这种机制是否起作用，我们对两项独立的研究进行了自我肯定操作，这些研究合并为一项（N= 308）。更具体地说，我们要求日常吸烟者在进行自我肯定之前先报告其对烟草的依赖性。然后，我们评估了他们退出的动机。结果表明，在高度依赖的吸烟者中，自我肯定的人比没有吸烟的人有更高的戒烟动机。在低依赖性吸烟者中，自我肯定没有影响。这些发现阐明了这样一种想法，即对身份过程的解释可以为理解烟草依赖及其对吸烟者戒烟动机的后果提供新的见解。