Lesson 13 of 45
In Progress

Attributional styles and substance use

0% Complete
0/45 Steps

As described in the Stigma & Self-Esteem section, many people who use drugs can experience self-stigma, creating the belief that they are always to blame for things going wrong.  

  • This often leads to one-sided attributional styles that change depending on if the situation was good or bad: 
    • Failures = attributed to oneself (“I relapsed again because I have no self control”) 
    • Success = attributed to the circumstance, luck, or that they are unworthy of praise (“I have only been able to cut down my use because I don’t hang out with William anymore”) 
  • Consequences of one-sided, negative attributional styles: 
    • Decreased self-worth 
    • Sadness, dejection 
    • Withdrawal from social activities due to fear of making a mistake 
  • To avoid this, we need to consider multiple factors when thinking about the causes of a certain event. The more balanced explanation should include elements of yourself as well as the situation and others.