The urge to smoke depends on the expectation of smoking

M. Dols, M. Van den Hout, M. Kindt, B. Willems

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aims An earlier study (Dols et al. 2000) suggested that cue‐induced urge to smoke depends on the expectation of smoking. The present study tried to replicate the findings under stringently controlled conditions.

Design A 2 (context) × 2 (cues) × 6 (trial) within‐subject design. Each smoker entered two different contexts; one context predicted the future occurrence of smoking (i.e. one puff of a cigarette) and one context predicted the non‐occurrence of smoking. In each context smokers were exposed to smoking cues (i.e. cigarettes and lighter) or not.

Setting Laboratory at Maastricht University.

Participants Thirty‐two daily smokers, smoking at least five cigarettes a day for at least 2 years.

Measurements. Participants reported their urge to smoke in each context in the presence and absence of smoking cues using a computerized visual analogue scale (VAS).

Findings The results revealed that the urge to smoke was higher in a context in which smoking was expected relative to a context in which it was not expected. As in the previous study the urge‐inducing effect of smoking cues was larger in the smoking context than in the non‐smoking context. Moreover, smoking cues did not have a significant effect in the non‐smoking context.

Conclusions It was shown that smoking cues elicit craving due mainly to a generated expectation of the occurrence of smoking and less due to salience or long history of associative learning. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)87-93
JournalAddiction
Volume97
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • craving
  • cue
  • expectancy

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