Cognitive Dissonance: Denial, Self Concepts and the Alcoholic Stereotype

Abstract

Alcoholism is a serious problem. In Ontario, 3.89% of the population who are 15 years of age or older are believed to be alcoholic (Marshman, 1978). The Lalonde (1974) report stated that in Canada "one quarter of all first male admissions to psychiatric hospitals are due to alcoholism" (p. 24). The report also related alcohol abuse to "motor vehicle accidents, poisonings, accidental fire deaths, cirrhosis of the liver and falls" (p. 24). Consequently, nurses will frequently encounter patients diagnosed as alcoholic. In caring for patients diagnosed as alcoholic, two common problems are: denial of alcoholism (Moore & Buchanon, 1966) and negative self concepts (Heinemann, Moore, & Gurel, 1977; Quereshi & Scat, 1976). Nurses may find these problems frustrating and difficult to deal with. Common theoretical frameworks, such as viewing denial as a defence mechanism, are complex and offer few, if any, interventions for the nurse. A study was conducted to examine denial, negative self concepts and acceptance of the alcoholic stereodoc within a theoretical framework of cognitive dissonance.