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The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
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Action identification of drinking and self-control.

Tibor P Palfai1, Brian D Ostafin

  • 1Department of Psychology, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA. palfai@bu.edu

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors : Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors
|March 24, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Higher-level mental representation of drinking behavior is linked to poorer self-control in hazardous drinkers. Addressing action identification may improve self-management strategies for alcohol use.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Self-control in addictive behaviors may depend on mental action representations.
  • Previous studies suggest higher-level identification of alcohol use correlates with impaired control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between impaired alcohol control and action identification of drinking behavior.
  • To differentiate if higher-level identification causes impaired control or vice-versa.

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-one young adult hazardous drinkers participated.
  • Assessed impaired control using the Impaired Control Over Alcohol Scale.
  • Examined action identification during a structured laboratory drinking task.

Main Results:

  • Greater impaired control over alcohol was associated with higher-level action identification during the drinking task.
  • This association remained significant even after controlling for alcohol consumption.

Conclusions:

  • Higher-level action identification of alcohol use may impede self-control.
  • Interventions targeting mental representations of drinking behavior could enhance self-management strategies.