Fotuhi et al., 2014: Affirming values shared with friends or family increased likelihood of quitting smoking among smokers over six months
Reference:
Fotuhi, O., Spencer, S., Fong, G. T., & Zanna, M. P. (2014). Contingent affirmation intervention among smokers: Directly linking affirming values to health-specific goals. Manuscript in preparation.
Download PDFSummary:
With the theory that even as a standard affirmation can open people up to threatening health information it may also remove threat that could otherwise motivate positive behavior change, an exercise was developed that tied a value-affirmation to quitting. Smokers reflected on a personally important value they shared with a close friend or family member who supported their intention to quit. At a 6-month follow-up, this increased the percentage of smokers who had quit (36%), as compared to both a standard values-affirmation (16%) and a control condition (1%).
Psychological Process:
Need
Need to BelongWhat Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
To Feel Connected, Included, Respected, and Valued by OthersApproach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Link Belonging to a Behavior or Attitude to Motivate Positive ChangeHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Will this behavior help me connect with other people?Will this behavior help me connect with other people?Linking social connections and feelings of belonging to goal pursuitsPsychological Question Addressed
Will this behavior help me connect with other people?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Health
Intervention Technique:
Active reflection, value-affirmation (goal-contingent)