The Importance of Assessing Cognitions & Emotions not Beliefs about Cognitions & Emotions

A recent study reported in Science News (11/30/02, p. 340-341) highlights the importance of actually assessing cognitions (and emotions and behavior) rather than just asking clients what they think about their cognitions, emotions, and/or behavior. Quite a few surveys have been conducted to try to figure out what triggers tobbaco consumption among smokers. When smokers are asked what prompts them to smoke, they often report that nervousness, sadness, and other unpleasant emotions prompt them to smoke. This has led many researchers to conclude that people smoke as a way of managing negative affect.

However, when Saul Shiffman actually monitored smokers moods, etc. during their daily activities and analyzed how they related to smoking, he was surprised that the moods which smokers say prompt them to smoke actually are not related to smoking. Instead he found that smoking is moderately related to the presence of other smokers, to restlessness, to participation in leisure activities, to consumption of food, alcohol, and coffee. Smoking was most strongly related to a mild to moderate increase in the urge to smoke. Apparently, smokers anticipate cravings and light up quickly in order to keep cravings mild.

Schiffman is quoted as saying that this finding "demonstrates the danger of relying only on people's beliefs about their past emotional reactions rather than tracking emotions from moment to moment." Obviously, this applies to cognitions and behavior as well. Clients often have ideas about what they think, feel or do which turn out to be inaccurate when detailed information is collected.

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