Compliance Gaining Strategies and Levels of Prevention Designing Messages About Substance Abuse
Three Levels of Prevention Primary Prevention Secondary Prevention Tertiary Prevention
Primary Prevention Stop it before it starts Target those that have not tried it Described by the NIDA as universal prevention 1 National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Strategies addressed to the general population Aimed at preventing the use of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. Example: D.A.R.E. program, commercials, national media initiatives.
Secondary Prevention Dealing with early signs of problem Target those that have tried drugs, but not addicted. Described by the NIDA as selective prevention 1 messages targeted toward those at the highest risk for substance abuse. Through interpersonal means, peer groups Examples: You will eventually get caught and thrown in jail. Habitual use will ruin your life.
Tertiary Prevention Treating those are suffering from the problem Targeting those headlong into addiction Described by NIDA as indicated prevention 2 Showing signs of substance abuse (failing grades, alienation, behavior problems) Targeting those that have began using many drugs Examples: Drug rehabilitation (voluntary/ involuntary),
Compliance Gaining Focus on behavior change persuasion aimed at getting others to do something or act in a particular way. Sociologist, Marwell and Schmitt (1967) 3 16 compliance gaining tactics Springboard for compliance research to follow Compliance gaining is not a simple task
Compliance Gaining Strategies Used With Substance Abuse Prevention Coercion Justification Group Norms Appeal to Family and Friends Pre-Giving Rewards
Coercion Gaining compliance through negative means 4 Can be physical and usually forceful Examples: Lying/ deceiving Threats do this or else Fear Appeals- Scare Tactics Adverse stimulation Punishing until cessation is contingent on compliance You are not allowed in the house until the drug use stop. Once compliance is gained, reward with freedoms Negative self-feeling- feeling bad about oneself Negative esteem- people will be disappointed
Justification Use of scientific reasoning Using expertise If you use methamphetamine, you will suffer from many medical problems. First time users can experience many of meth's side effects, including death Discuss the science of addiction and effects Expert power State the facts
Group Norms Fall in line with the group People want to belong- inclusion Framing the character and image of drug abusers Shed in negative light Drugs associated with negative image You will be successful without drugs Bandwagon Techniques It s cool to say no Above the influence campaign: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/the-ads/default.aspx
Appeals to Family and Friends Appeal to family members and friends Message targets loved ones of potential or current uses. Examples: Talk to your kids about drugs. Friends don t let friends drive drunk. http://www.theantidrug.com/
Pre-Giving Rewarding before asking compliance Give the incentive, then obtain compliance Examples: I will get you an apartment and job if you stay off of drugs. I will get you the help you need, but you have to stay away from the drugs Used in conjunction with rehabilitation efforts
Rewards Offer the incentive, after compliance is gained, give the reward. Could be inevitable rewards (not just something given, but something earned) Refrain from drugs= something positive Often used by parents Examples If you stay away from drugs, you will be successful in life. If you stay away from drugs, you will receive a new car from your parents.
Age Target appropriate age with the appropriate message Young Children Coercion is used Appeals to Family Adolescents All are used in targeting adolescents Appealing to group norms most effective Adults All are used in targeting adults Emotional appeals to family is effective. Justification
Culture Important to keep in mind when designing messages Culture is the key to compliance 4 Cultural attitudes about drugs translate into drug practice Importance of ethnic cultural norms 5 Very important to target the cultural attitudes and cultural norms Message is more effective coming from inside the culture
Situational Factors Dominance- level of control of power in a relationship Intimacy- level of emotional attachment Resistance- degree to which the persuader thinks the message will be rejected Personal Benefits- degree to which the parties involved benefit from compliance Rights- extent to which the persuader thinks the request or message is warranted. Relational Consequencesthe long-term or short-term effects on the relationships Apprehension- degree to which the persuader perceives nervousness in the situation.
References 1 National Institute of Drug Abuse. (1997). Drug abuse prevention: What works. Bethesda, MD: Author. 2 Turnock, B.J. (2004). Public Health: What it is and how it works.(3 rd ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett. 3 Marwell, G. and Schmitt, D.R. (1967). Dimensions of compliance gaining behavior: An empirical analysis. Sociometry, 30, 350-364. 4 Gass, R.H. and Seiter, J.S. (2003). Persuasion, social influence, and compliance gaining.(2 nd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 5 Dent,C.W., Sussman, S., Ellikson,P., Brown, P. Richardson, J. (1996). Is current drug abuse prevention programming generalizability across ethnic groups. American Behavioral Scientist, 39(7),911-919. 6 Miller-Day, M. and Barnette, J.M. (1996). I m not a druggie, adolescents ethnicity and (erroneous) beliefs about drug abuse norms. Health Communication, 16(2), 207-228.