Contrary to the popular stereotype, stoners aren’t lazy layabouts. At least, that’s the conclusion of a new study, which found that chronic cannabis users don’t appear to experience any reduction in motivation or willingness to exert effort as a result of their consumption.
The researchers recruited 260 weed smokers from Reddit, all of whom said they got high at least three times a week for recreational rather than medical reasons. Through a smartphone app, participants received five questionnaires a day for seven days, asking them about whether they were stoned and testing their motivation levels.
“There is a stereotype that chronic cannabis users are somehow lazy or unproductive,” said study author Michael Inzlicht in a statement. “We found that’s not the case – their behaviours might change a bit in the moment while they’re high, but our evidence shows they are not lazy or lacking motivation at all.”
As part of the assessment, participants were repeatedly asked to choose between an easy number-sorting task in exchange for a small amount of compensation, or a more difficult mathematical challenge for a higher reward. Overall, the chronic cannabis users chose the harder task at about the same rate when they were high as they did when they weren’t high.
Based on this observation, the study authors write that “when chronic users got high, they were no more amotivated, no less motivated for extrinsic or intrinsic reasons, and no less willing to objectively push themselves.” Even more surprisingly, results showed that those with more extreme levels of cannabis use were often more up for a challenge than more moderate users.
“Again, countering the stereotype of the lazy stoner, people who get high multiple times per day are not less motivated than those who get high multiple times per week,” note the researchers. “In fact, in some instances, they are more motivated.”
Overall, results indicated that chronic cannabis users tend to consume the drug for the simple reason that it feels good and is “associated with a host of increased positive emotions such as awe, inspiration, and gratitude, as well as reduced stress and fear.”
“Interestingly, getting high was not associated with increased suspicion/paranoia among chronic users, contrary to popular depictions and even medical symptom lists,” continue the study authors. On top of this, the researchers say they were surprised to find no evidence for a “weed hangover”, with users displaying no signs of altered emotions or motivation the day after getting stoned.
On the flip-side, results showed that regular cannabis use does impede conscientiousness, as getting high appears to make people more impulsive, less organized, more willing to lie, and less willing to follow rules.
“These things can detract someone from getting stuff done, but we didn’t find it made them less hard-working, responsible or able to focus,” says Inzlicht.
The study is published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Source Link: Getting Stoned All The Time Doesn’t Make You Lazy
