Motivational Mechanisms in Addiction (peer-reviewed paper, PMC)

What it is

This is a peer-reviewed, open-access paper on PubMed Central examining how addiction models invoke motivational mechanisms, and arguing that in doing so they have over-emphasized what is distinctive about addictive behaviours while overlooking what they share with ordinary motivated behaviour. That matters for anyone in recovery, because it cuts against the idea that addiction is a categorically alien process happening to a defective person, and toward the view that it runs on the same machinery as everything else a person wants. Free to read. But be clear about the audience: this is written for researchers, in academic register, and a person in distress will not find comfort or instruction in it — send it to someone who wants primary sources, not to someone who is struggling tonight. Note automated checking was blocked by a CAPTCHA, so confirm the exact title and authors before citing it.

What it may help with

• I want to understand the science

How to access it

Open-access journal article Free on PubMed Central

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