The Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy (AASE) Scale.html) is a survey that has been developed to evaluate a person’s potential to abstain from drinking alcohol. The Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy scale was developed by Dr Carlo DiClemente in 1994. It has been proven an effective tool in self-measurement, and can lead to increased motivation for changing behavior.

The Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale is a 20-item self report survey that measures a person’s confidence in their own ability to abstain from drinking in specific situations. The test results can help to assess an individual’s potential progress for alcohol treatment and to determine the right mode of treatment. High scores on the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale indicate that and individual has more confidence in their ability to abstain from using alcohol. Conversely, low scores indicate that a person does not believe they can resist the temptation to drink alcohol. Medical professionals can use this information to help determine the treatment path and aid therapists in improving self-efficacy levels.

Importance of Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is the confidence in one’s ability to manage a high risk situation effectively. It can be used to determine the risk situations and effectively arm an individual with skills to cope. An assessment of self-efficacy is important in determining treatment plans and predicting future problems.

Coping self-efficacy is the confidence to abstain from alcohol or other substances in difficult situations. The more a person has a belief in themselves that they can fight the urge to drink alcohol, the greater the ability to maintain abstinence will be. It also indicates that a relapse will be a minor set back rather than a return to alcohol abuse.

Self-efficacy is important in alcohol treatment as it means that a person has the confidence in their ability to quit drinking and is not just doing it for some other reason. It enables therapists to tap into this confidence in their own ability and help them on the path to recovery. Without some level of self-efficacy, treatment will be difficult, Indeed, the individual may already believe that they cannot quit drinking.

Self-Efficacy and Social Cognitive Theory

Self-efficacy is based in social cognitive theory that was developed by Dr. Albert Bandura. Social cognitive theory is based on the premise that people are in control of shaping their environment and context rather than simply reacting to them.

There are four basic ideas to social cognitive theory:

* People have powerful cognitive capabilities which allow them to create their own models of experience. This means that people have the ability to develop new plans, make predictions about their future behaviors or experiences, and clearly communicate them to others.
* Environmental events, inner personal factors (cognition, emotion & biological events) and behaviors all influence one another but are able to be controlled by the individual. Individuals respond emotionally and physically to changes in the environment but are in control & can influence their own reaction, behavior and cognition.
* Self and identity are socially embedded perceptions that are created interactions. Interactions define what an individual’s identity is and they change appropriately.
* Self regulation is based in self-reflection and behavior and goals are regulated through experiences.

According to social cognitive theory, an individual can control the situation and environment they are in, as well as their own reactions. Self-efficacy fits into this, as it can be defined as the belief that someone is able to perform activities in certain situations, under different circumstances. In regards to alcohol use or abuse, or other addiction behavior, self-efficacy can determine an individual’s ability to abstain from drinking or drug use when they are around certain people, under stress, or in particular locations. An alcoholic or drug addict has the ability to respond the way they want to in a situation that may be high risk for drinking, determine what their own identity beyond alcohol is, and regulate their own behavior. Rather than being controlled by the influence of alcohol, a person has the ability to control the influence of alcohol.


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