Mindsets of Addiction: Implications for Treatment Intentions

Introduction: The goal of the current work is to contribute to the critical dialog regarding consequences of different communications about the nature of addiction by offering a new theoretical approach. Specifically, we merge a mindset perspective, which highlights the importance of beliefs regarding the malleability of human attributes, with the attribution literature to explore how messages stressing the changeable vs. fixed nature of addiction influence beliefs and treatment intentions. Method: We crafted a message about addiction designed to induce the belief in the potential to change without influencing self-blame (compensatory-growth mindset message) and compared it to a message focused on the fixed underpinnings of addiction (disease-fixed mindset message). Results: In an online sample of probable substance users (N = 214), we found that the compensatory-growth, relative to the disease-fixed message, led to participants reporting stronger growth mindsets and efficacy without an impact on blame. Additionally, the compensatory-growth, relative to the disease-fixed message, led to stronger intentions to pursue counseling and cognitive behavioral treatment therapies. Discussion: The current work finds support for an innovative theoretical approach for understanding motivation to seek treatment among individuals with probable substance use problems.