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Addictive Behaviors

Alcohol, Drugs, and Smoking

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Behavioral Medicine

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Abstract

Several classes of behavior can be logically analyzed together under the very loose rubric addictive behaviors. These behaviors have in common that they can occur in normal people at low or intermediate rates and approach pathological significance only they they become The same behaviors seem strongly controlled by powerful, immediate positive reinforcement, and when they become excessive they all seem to produce changes in the individual’s health status that can be termed ultimate aversive consequences (Ferster & Perrott, 1968). Such ultimate aversive consequences, although ranging in severity from interpersonal disruption through physical symptoms such as hangover, withdrawal, and even death, appear to have little real control over the behavior that produces them (especially in terms of reduction of the addictive behaviors) All of these addictive behaviors appear to have in common similar antecedents, consequences, and maintaining stimuli. In addition, addictive behaviors can become more difficult, to treat, or modify as other reinforcers become less effective or important in the lives of the behavers (Crowley, 1972).

Composition of this chapter has been supported in part by V.A. Project No. 1777-001, Modification of Alcoholic Behavior.

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  1. Behavioral Medicine and Automated Assessment Laboratories, Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33125, USA

    Robert S. Davidson (Director)

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  1. Robert S. Davidson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Medicine Services, Brookwood Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    Daniel M. Doleys Ph. D. (Program Director) (Program Director)

  2. Vaughan Clinic, Brookwood Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    Ronald L. Meredith Psy. D.

  3. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Behavioral Medicine Institute, Miami, Florida, USA

    Anthony R. Ciminero Ph. D.

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Davidson, R.S. (1982). Addictive Behaviors. In: Doleys, D.M., Meredith, R.L., Ciminero, A.R. (eds) Behavioral Medicine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4070-6_14

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