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Matching observation to addiction theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Robert M. Swift
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University; also at Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, Rl 02908. robert_swift@brown.edu

Abstract

Over the years, many theories have been proposed to account for the aberrant behavior of drug dependent individuals. Heyman posits that the existing theories of drug dependence are inadequate to explain the complex processes inherent in human drug-taking. He proposes that incongruous behaviors that comprise addiction, such as continued drug use in spite of adverse consequences, can be explained by application of the matching law approach. While the matching law theory of addiction explains certain aspects of human behavior, its application to the area of addiction must be subjected to experimental verification.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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