Addiction: Characteristics

Question 1

What are the Characteristics of Addictive Behavior?

Answer 1

1. Salience
2. Mood Modification
3. Tolerance
4. Withdrawal Symptoms
5. Conflict
6. Relapse

Question 2

Describe Salience

Answer 2

Addictive behavior/substance become most important thing in individual’s life. It dominates their thoughts,feelings and behavior.

Question 3

Describe Mood Modification

Answer 3

Individual experiences a change in mood when they engage in the addictive behavior. Includes giving individual high/buzz or feeling of escape/numbness
Mood modification may change at different points in the day.

Question 4

Describe Tolerance

Answer 4

Overtime individual will need more of addictive behavior/substance to achieve same effects.
Association with chemical addictions.

Question 5

Describe Withdrawal Symptoms

Answer 5

Occurs if addictive behavior/substance is stopped.
Can be physical (e.g. insomnia/nausea/headaches)
Can be psychological (e.g. irritability/moodiness)
Generally associated with chemical addictions.

Question 6

Describe Conflict

Answer 6

Addicts will often experience conflicts internally & externally.
Interpersonal Conflicts - addict + other people (e.g. friends/family/etc)
Intrinsically Conflicts - conflict within addict

Question 7

Describe Relapse

Answer 7

Tendency to return to addictive behavior.

Generally seen in Chemical Addictions