Loss of Control, Continuation Despite Harm, and Craving or Preoccupation: The Three Pillars of Goodman's Model of Behavioral Addiction
The Diagnostic Criteria for Behavioral Addictions (Goodman 1990)
Introduction
Behavioral addictions are a type of psychological disorder that involve compulsive and repetitive engagement in non-substance-related behaviors that provide reward or relief, but also cause significant impairment or distress in various domains of life. Examples of behavioral addictions include gambling, gaming, internet use, shopping, sex, exercise, eating, and work.
The Diagnostic Criteria For Behavioral Addictions (Goodman 1990)
Behavioral addictions are important to study and understand because they affect millions of people worldwide and have serious consequences for their health, well-being, relationships, finances, and productivity. Moreover, behavioral addictions share many similarities with substance use disorders, such as neurobiological mechanisms, psychological processes, clinical features, and treatment approaches. Therefore, it is essential to have a clear and consistent definition and diagnosis of behavioral addictions that can guide research and practice.
One of the most influential and widely used models for defining and diagnosing behavioral addictions is the one proposed by Goodman (1990). Goodman's model is based on the concept of addiction as a syndrome that consists of three core criteria: loss of control, continuation despite harm, and craving or preoccupation. According to Goodman, these criteria can be applied to any behavior that has addictive potential, regardless of whether it involves a substance or not.
In this article, we will explain Goodman's model in detail and discuss its main features and components. We will also examine the advantages and limitations of using Goodman's model for diagnosing behavioral addictions.
The Three Criteria for Behavioral Addictions
Criterion A: Loss of Control
The first criterion for behavioral addiction is loss of control over the behavior. This means that the person has difficulty initiating, stopping, or limiting the behavior, despite having a desire or intention to do so. The person may also experience a sense of compulsion or urge to engage in the behavior that is hard to resist.
Loss of control can be measured and assessed by using various methods, such as self-report questionnaires, interviews, behavioral observations, or physiological indicators. Some common indicators of loss of control include:
Spending more time or money on the behavior than intended or planned
Failing to reduce or quit the behavior despite repeated attempts
Neglecting other responsibilities or obligations because of the behavior
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when unable to engage in the behavior
Needing to increase the frequency or intensity of the behavior to achieve the same effect
Some examples of loss of control in behavioral addictions are:
A gambler who cannot stop betting even when losing money or facing legal problems
A gamer who plays for hours every day and neglects school or work
An internet user who spends most of their waking hours online and ignores their family or friends
A shopper who buys things they do not need or cannot afford and accumulates debt
A sex addict who engages in risky or harmful sexual behaviors and contracts sexually transmitted diseases
Criterion B: Continuation Despite Harm
The second criterion for behavioral addiction is continuation despite harm. This means that the person persists in engaging in the behavior even when it causes negative consequences for themselves or others. The person may also be aware of the harm, but minimize, rationalize, or deny it.
Harm can be measured and assessed by using various methods, such as self-report questionnaires, interviews, behavioral observations, or objective indicators. Some common indicators of harm include:
Experiencing physical, mental, emotional, or social problems because of the behavior
Impairing one's functioning or performance in various domains of life because of the behavior
Violating one's values or morals because of the behavior
Hurting or damaging one's relationships with others because of the behavior
Exposing oneself or others to danger or risk because of the behavior
Some examples of harm in behavioral addictions are:
An exerciser who suffers from injuries, fatigue, or eating disorders because of overtraining
A workaholic who experiences burnout, stress, or depression because of overworking
An eater who develops obesity, diabetes, or heart disease because of overeating
A gambler who loses their savings, assets, or family because of gambling
A sex addict who cheats on their partner, breaks the law, or harms others because of sex
Criterion C: Craving or Preoccupation
The third criterion for behavioral addiction is craving or preoccupation with the behavior. This means that the person has a strong and persistent desire or urge to engage in the behavior that occupies their thoughts, feelings, or actions. The person may also experience a sense of anticipation, excitement, relief, or pleasure when engaging in the behavior.
Craving or preoccupation can be measured and assessed by using various methods, such as self-report questionnaires, interviews, behavioral observations, or physiological indicators. Some common indicators of craving or preoccupation include:
Thinking about the behavior frequently or obsessively
Feeling restless, irritable, anxious, or depressed when not engaging in the behavior
Planning one's life around the behavior or arranging opportunities to engage in the behavior
Using the behavior as a way to cope with stress, boredom, loneliness, or negative emotions
Experiencing euphoria, satisfaction, or reward when engaging in the behavior
Some examples of craving or preoccupation in behavioral addictions are:
A gamer who thinks about gaming all the time and feels anxious when not playing
An internet user who checks their email, social media, or news constantly and feels bored when offline
A shopper who looks for bargains, sales, or new items frequently and feels happy when buying something
A sex addict who fantasizes about sex often and feels aroused when having sex
An eater who craves certain foods and feels satisfied when eating them
The Advantages and Limitations of Goodman's Model
Goodman's model has several advantages and benefits for defining and diagnosing behavioral addictions. Some of them are:
It is simple and clear. It uses only three criteria that are easy to understand and apply.
It is comprehensive and inclusive. It covers a wide range of behaviors that have addictive potential.
It is consistent and compatible. It aligns with the definition and diagnosis of substance use disorders and other addictive disorders.
It is empirically supported and validated. It has been tested and confirmed by many studies and clinical cases.
It is clinically useful and practical. It helps clinicians to identify, assess, and treat behavioral addictions effectively.
Outline of the article --- H2: The Advantages and Limitations of Goodman's Model - What are some of the strengths and benefits of using Goodman's model for diagnosing behavioral addictions? - What are some of the challenges and drawbacks of using Goodman's model for diagnosing behavioral addictions? H2: Conclusion - Summarize the main points and findings of the article. - Provide some implications and recommendations for future research and practice. H2: FAQs - What are some examples of behavioral addictions? - How common are behavioral addictions? - How can behavioral addictions be treated? - How can behavioral addictions be prevented? - How can I tell if I have a behavioral addiction?
The Advantages and Limitations of Goodman's Model
Goodman's model has several advantages and benefits for defining and diagnosing behavioral addictions. Some of them are:
It is simple and clear. It uses only three criteria that are easy to understand and apply.
It is comprehensive and inclusive. It covers a wide range of behaviors that have addictive potential.
It is consistent and compatible. It aligns with the definition and diagnosis of substance use disorders and other addictive disorders.
It is empirically supported and validated. It has been tested and confirmed by many studies and clinical cases.
It is clinically useful and practical. It helps clinicians to identify, assess, and treat behavioral addictions effectively.
However, Goodman's model also has some challenges and drawbacks for defining and diagnosing behavioral addictions. Some of them are:
It is too broad and vague. It does not specify the frequency, duration, or severity of the behavior that constitutes addiction.
It is too subjective and variable. It depends on the person's perception and evaluation of the behavior and its consequences.
It is too rigid and exclusive. It does not account for the diversity and complexity of human behavior and its context.
It is too static and outdated. It does not reflect the current knowledge and understanding of behavioral addictions and their neurobiological, psychological, social, and cultural factors.
It is too simplistic and reductionist. It does not capture the multidimensional and dynamic nature of behavioral addictions and their interactions with other disorders or conditions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Goodman's model is one of the most influential and widely used models for defining and diagnosing behavioral addictions. It proposes that behavioral addictions are characterized by three core criteria: loss of control, continuation despite harm, and craving or preoccupation. These criteria can be applied to any behavior that has addictive potential, regardless of whether it involves a substance or not.
Goodman's model has many advantages and benefits for research and practice, such as simplicity, clarity, comprehensiveness, inclusiveness, consistency, compatibility, empirical support, validation, clinical usefulness, and practicality. However, it also has some challenges and drawbacks, such as broadness, vagueness, subjectivity, variability, rigidity, exclusivity, staticness, outdatedness, simplicity, reductionism.
Therefore, Goodman's model should be used with caution and critical thinking. It should not be considered as the final or definitive word on behavioral addictions, but rather as a starting point or a framework for further exploration and development. Future research and practice should aim to improve Goodman's model by addressing its limitations and incorporating new findings and perspectives from various disciplines and domains.
FAQs
What are some examples of behavioral addictions?
Some examples of behavioral addictions are gambling, gaming, internet use, shopping, sex, exercise, eating, work.
How common are behavioral addictions?
The prevalence of behavioral addictions varies depending on the definition, measurement, and population used. However, some estimates suggest that between 1% to 10% of adults may have at least one behavioral addiction.
How can behavioral addictions be treated?
The treatment of behavioral addictions depends on the type, severity, and co-occurrence of the behavior and other disorders or conditions. However, some common treatment modalities include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, self-help groups, and behavioral interventions.
How can behavioral addictions be prevented?
The prevention of behavioral addictions involves reducing the risk factors and enhancing the protective factors that influence the development and maintenance of the behavior. Some common prevention strategies include education, awareness, regulation, screening, early detection, and referral.
How can I tell if I have a behavioral addiction?
If you think you may have a behavioral addiction, you can ask yourself some questions, such as:
Do I have difficulty controlling or stopping the behavior?
Do I continue the behavior despite negative consequences?
Do I crave or obsess over the behavior?
Does the behavior interfere with my life or well-being?
Do I need help or support to change the behavior?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may have a behavioral addiction. However, this is not a formal diagnosis and you should consult a professional for a proper assessment and treatment.
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