Several pervading stereotype about cannabis users have been investigate by a new bailiwick , including the belief that they are " lazy " and lack motivating – and the final result make these stereotype go up in a puff of smoke .
participant who usedcannabisthree to four times a week showed no difference compared to non - users in terms of motivation , also scoring better in terms of their power to palpate pleasure . They also show no decreased want of rewards , nor reduced willingness to put in the drive to advance those advantage .
Scientists from University College London ; the University of Cambridge ; and the Institute of Psychiatry , Psychology & Neuroscience at King ’s College London looked at teenagers ( aged 16 - 17 geezerhood ) and adult ( 26 - 29 year ) who use cannabis on a regular basis and compared them to controls who do not practice the drug .
In a survey , the 274 participant were asked doubtfulness to assess their stage of apathy , anhedonia ( inability to finger pleasure ) , and elbow grease - base conclusion - devising for rewards using pre - established scales . They were alsoset trial , such as button pressing tasks with chocolate and sweet rewards , to appraise motivation , with participants rank their rewards to evaluate their story of enjoyment .
" Cannabis usage has historically been linked with amotivation , which is chew over in prevalent , dyslogistic ' indolent lapidator ' stereotypes , " the authors publish in their paper . " In this discipline , we anticipate this cliché by showing that a relatively large group of adult and adolescent ganja users and control did not dissent on several measures of reward and motivating . "
“ We were surprised to see that there was really very piddling conflict between cannabis users and non - users when it add up to want of motive or deficiency of enjoyment , even among those who used hemp every day , " Lead author , Ph.D. nominee Martine Skumlien from University College London said in astatement .
" This is obstinate to the stereotypical portrayal we see on TV and in moving-picture show . ”
As well as pose a stereotype to the test , the authors suggest it might allay some fears around cannabis consumption by young users .
“ There ’s been a lot of concern that cannabis function in adolescence might lead to spoiled outcomes than cannabis use during maturity . But our cogitation , one of the first to directly liken teenager and adults who use marihuana , suggest that stripling are no more vulnerable than adults to the harmful effects of cannabis on motivation , the experience of pleasure , or the wit ’s reply to reward , " atomic number 27 - author Dr Will Lawn from University College London ’s Psychology & Language Sciences say .
“ In fact , it seems cannabis may have no connection – or at most only light association – with these effect in ecumenical . However , we want studies that face for these associations over a foresightful period of time to confirm these findings . ”
The study waspublished in Neuropsychopharmacology .
