Treating the Substance-Addicted Offender: Theory and Practice
Barbara Sims in Substance Abuse Treatment with Correctional Clients, 2012
In a similar vein, self-handicapping theory suggests that an overindulgence in drugs or alcohol often occurs prior to certain situations in which one believes that he or she is likely to fail (Jung, 2001). Lack of adequate social skills and the social learning theory again come into play. Learned expectations of “I am likely to fail because I have before in this type of situation” set individuals up for failure. Or, a past success can put pressure on individuals to keep performing at a certain level. Self-handicapping occurs when individuals believe that the past success must have been an anomaly given the past history of the individual. Indulging in drugs and/or alcohol prior to the upcoming event allows the individual to excuse the expected failure because of being under the influence.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as an Illness Identity
Kyle Brauer Boone in Neuropsychological Evaluation of Somatoform and Other Functional Somatic Conditions, 2017
To some readers this might be counterintuitive: if you are trying to protect your self-esteem, why would you claim to have symptoms of an illness, which should carry negative connotations for functioning? Wouldn’t an illness identity be harmful to self-esteem? It is important to remember that, in the studies cited earlier, individuals who already had a tendency to report high numbers of symptoms were examined; those who initially reported low levels of symptoms did not show self-handicapping by symptom report. In other words, it was only individuals who potentially had an illness identity who showed a further increase in symptom report when they were placed in a situation that created performance concern. As Snyder and Smith (1982) suggested, the symptoms themselves may have initially developed for other reasons, but can be maintained and further enhanced through the process of self-handicapping. In addition, Snyder and Smith (1982) suggest two reasons self-handicapping by symptom report can protect self-esteem: (1) the symptoms that are typically claimed are less central to an individual’s core beliefs about him/herself and his/her ability, and (2) symptoms are often thought of as out of an individual’s control, and thus outside of his/her personal responsibility. For example, if someone with an ADHD illness identity is facing a difficult exam, a core central belief about one’s intelligence or general ability (“I am not smart”) is a more dangerous threat to self-esteem than to think “I could do this easily, if it weren’t for my ADHD getting in the way.” Furthermore, there are other motivating aspects of self-handicapping that are not related to self-esteem; for example, Snyder and Smith (1982) suggested that self-handicapping strategies allow an individual to avoid threatening situations altogether or obtain tangible rewards, and Baumgardner (1991) suggested that self-handicapping serves to manage an individual’s public impression. Thus, several motivational components may play a role in a person’s tendency to report symptoms as potential impediments to success when facing a new task with an uncertain outcome or a high likelihood of failure.
The relationships between self-efficacy, self-control, chronotype, procrastination and sleep problems in young adults
Published in Chronobiology International, 2019
Aneta Przepiórka, Agata Błachnio, Nicolson Yat-Fan Siu
As regards the role of self-control in the context of the analyses discussed, the assumption concerning the predictive power of self-control for procrastination was significant in our study. Self-control was the strongest negative predictor of procrastination. It is consistent with the research suggesting that the former construct serves a protective function against postponing the initiation or completion of a task (Strunk and Steele 2011). Those young adults who were lower in self-control strength manifested a higher tendency to procrastinate. According to self-regulation theory, self-control helps reduce competing tendencies and sustain energy in the course of action. The lack of adequately strong self-regulation may lead to self-handicapping – for example, waiting until the last moment to begin a task (Beck et al. 2000). It should be noted that correlation analyses revealed a negative relationship between self-control and sleep problems, which is consistent with other studies. Individuals with low self-control do not take care to maintain proper sleep quality (Kroese et al. 2018), do not observe regular sleeping hours, and go to sleep in a manner incompatible with their sleep/wake rhythm (Diaz-Morales et al. 2007), which may translate into low sleep quality. When self-control was placed in a more comprehensive model of relationships with other variables, its role manifested itself mainly in the context of procrastination. Low self-control was not found to play a significant role in sleep problems.
Current pharmacotherapy options for conduct disorders in adolescents and children
Published in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2019
Sohil Khan, John Down, Nisreen Aouira, William Bor, Alison Haywood, Robyn Littlewood, Helen Heussler, Brett McDermott
Methylphenidate (MPH) was assessed in two studies [52,53]. MPH act as a dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) [59]. Psychostimulants are widely prescribed in those with CD with comorbid ADHD. Of the two reviewed studies that used MPH alone, one found treatment of aggressive behavior with long-acting MPH efficacious [52]. The second study [53] included three-arms and investigated MPH’s impact on aspects of quality of life. Self-handicapping (effort avoidance for potential failures that could impact self-esteem) was evaluated in ADHD children receiving placebo and ADHD children receiving MPH compared to controls. It found that children with ADHD may self-handicap to a greater extent than typically developing children and that this does not appear to be influenced by psychostimulant medication [53]. The heterogenous nature of included studies limits the recommendation base for psychostimulants in CD. Further investigation [60] into the use of psychostimulants in CD-alone would be helpful. MPH is generally well tolerated, with side-effects of nausea, appetite suppression, and insomnia often subsiding or responding to changes of dosing regimen [61]. There is some concern that early and continuous stimulant prescription has an inverse effect on a child’s final height [62]. These Concerns have been considerably allayed by systematic research suggesting no overall effect [63].
A Critical Outlook on Combat-Related PTSD: Review and Case Reports of Guilt and Shame as Drivers for Moral Injury
Published in Military Behavioral Health, 2018
Eric Vermetten, Rakesh Jetly
A large body of research has demonstrated that veterans who suffer psychological pain because of their actions toward others may be at risk of PTSD, depression, aggression, substance abuse, and other forms of psychopathology (Hoge et al., 2004). It is well known that combat veterans may experience chronic guilt and shame related to various acts of omission or commission during deployment (Kubany, 1994). As recent research showed these may be important contributors to suicide risk among military personnel with combat exposure, whether or not they meet criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD (Bryan, Morrow, Etienne, & Ray‐Sannerud, 2013). The recent reintroduction of moral injury has been proposed to emphasize the psychological sequelae of morally charged events in combat that result in guilt, shame, or inner conflict. It is described as witnessing, failing to prevent, or perpetrating acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations (Litz et al., 2009). In this description, betrayal on either a personal or an organizational level can also act as a precipitant. Litz et al. argue that these events may lead to survivor guilt (guilt over acts of omission and acts of commission, guilt about thoughts/feelings). Such experiences may be intrusively re-experienced and lead to shame and social disengagement, as well as self-handicapping, self-harm, and demoralization, serving as drivers to chronic PTSD, and in some cases to suicidal ideation or attempts.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Cognitive Strategy
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