Theory of Addiction

Front Cover
John Wiley & Sons, May 15, 2013 - Psychology - 304 pages
An understanding of addiction theory is vital to understanding addiction itself. Theory of Addiction takes theory development from a simple ‘rational addiction model’, adding elements such as compulsion, self-control and habit, to explain the ‘big observations’ in the field. As well as explaining and evaluating the arguments of each of the prevailing schools of thought, the book develops a new, synthetic theory of addiction that brings together the diverse elements of current models.

Designed to enable students, practitioners and researchers to establish a starting point in the labyrinthine world of addiction theory, Theory of Addiction supports abstract thinking with concrete and realistic scenarios, underlining the centrality of theoretical understanding to working with addiction.




  • Presents a digest of major existing theories in one volume
  • Develops a new synthetic theory of addiction
  • Recognises the diversity of the experience of addiction
  • Discusses factors at the level of both the individual and populations
  • Provides key recommendations for the development of effective interventions

From inside the book

Contents

journey to the centre of addiction
1
2 Definition theory and observation
9
addiction as choice
29
the concepts of impulse and selfcontrol
75
5 Addiction habit and instrumental learning
91
6 Addiction in populations and comprehensive theories
109
7 Development of a comprehensive theory
123
8 A synthetic theory of motivation
146
9 A theory of addiction
174
References
193
Index
207
Copyright

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About the author (2013)

Robert West is Professor of Health Psychology at University College London. He is Editor-in-Chief of the top ranking journal Addiction, also published by Blackwell Publishing.

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