A New Approach to Addiction and Choice
Akrasia and the Nature of Free Will
- 272 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Only available on web
About This Book
This engaging book provides a novel examination of the nature of addiction, suggesting that by exploring akrasiaâthe tendency to act against one's better judgementâwe can better understand our addictive behaviors. It offers an alternative to the dominant biomedical model of addiction as a chronic brain disease by looking at the nature of how we make decisions and proposing the idea that biased choice is central to addiction.
The book looks at both classic substance use disorders and newer "addictions" to smartphones, meat and fossil fuels. It discusses current perspectives on free will in philosophy, psychology and neuroscience, and the questions surrounding free will versus determinism, including our ability to steer our behaviors guided by the promise of future outcomes. Different perspectives on addiction and choice are presented in an eloquent style, and illustrated by personal stories. Through a lively discussion of the key scientific and philosophical issues surrounding addiction, this book is valuable for students in psychology, criminology, sociology and social work, as well as health care professionals and general readers interested in the nature of our free will.
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Endorsements
- Half Title
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Akrasia, free will and addiction
- 3 A chronic brain disease?
- 4 Why addiction is (usually) not a chronic brain disease
- 5 Addiction as biased choice
- 6 Development, vulnerability and prevention
- 7 Pills or talk therapy?
- 8 Improving choice: Reward alternatives, cognitive training and mindfulness
- 9 Meat addiction?: Smartphones, fossil fuels and our future
- 10 Conclusions and lessons
- Person Index
- Subject Index