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Variations of covert modeling on cigarette smoking

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Abstract

Undergraduate volunteer smokers (final N =36)were assigned to four experimental groups: (1)self-monitoring control; (2)covert modeling; (3)covert modeling with high value-high rate overt consequation of between-session rehearsals of covert modeling scenes; and (4)covert modeling with low value-low rate overt consequation of rehearsals. All groups self-monitored smoking frequency, urge frequency, and urge intensity throughout the duration of the 4-week experiment and during the 1-month follow-up. A variety of checks indicated that the experimental manipulations were adequately implemented. All experimental groups except covert modeling alone, which failed to exhibit changes across time, produced the typical V-shaped reduction in smoking frequency that has been found with most smoking reduction programs. The other research questions, possible enhancement of covert modeling by overt motivational or signaling consequences, therefore remained unanswered in the present study.

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Reference Notes

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Nesse, M., Nelson, R.O. Variations of covert modeling on cigarette smoking. Cogn Ther Res 1, 343–353 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01663998

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