Addictive Behavior Advantages

The advantage of viewing an addictive behavior as a disease is that research investigates cures for diseases. If we view addictive behavior as a disease, we are saying that there may be a cure for this type of addictive behavior and the addict can be potentially cured. When you believe that addictive behavior as a disease, you are saying that the addictive behavior can be changed and brought to an end. Many medical and professional institutions agree the some addictive behaviors are due to a disease. The addictive behavior of alcoholism is one example, The American Medical Association, American National Institute of Alcohol, Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and the American National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) are a few of the institutions …show more content…
If someone is attempting to get rid of a bad behavior, different punishment and reward methods can be used to stop the behavior from occurring. If we view addictive behavior as a learned behavior, we would believe that the addictive behavior can be discontinued with different punishment and reward methods, thus resulting to a hope that the addictive behavior can be unlearned. A limitation to viewing an addictive behavior as a learned behavior is that it can cause potential false hope for individuals. Not all addictive behaviors can be remedied. Those with addictive behaviors, not only have to contend with the addictive behavior but also the temptations that go with the addictive behaviors. For example, alcoholics that spend time around other alcoholics, are more likely to drink even when they do not necessarily desire to drink (Levinthal, 2014). Just as the perspective of addictive behavior being a disease, thinking of addictive behaviors as a learned behavior, takes the responsibility for the addiction away from the …show more content…
If we view an addictive behavior as immoral or sinful, then we are saying that you and only you, made the choice to begin and continue the addictive behavior (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). Another advantage of viewing an addictive behavior as immoral or sinful is that because only the person with the addictive behavior made the choice to begin the addictive behavior, then they can also make the choice to stop the addictive behavior. The main limitation to viewing an addictive behavior as immoral or sinful is that it puts all of the responsibility on the person with the addiction. If this person believes they are to blame, than they may become overwhelmed and continue down the same path because they believe that there is nothing they can do to cure their behavior. I can see how viewing addictive behavior as immoral or sinful, can be both beneficial in terms of holding the addict responsible for their actions thus potentially empowering them to end the addictive behavior and detrimental in terms of the addict becoming overwhelmed by the responsibility of their addiction causing them to continue with the addictive