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Well done,<BR>
anath<BR> <BR>> From: ablatner@verizon.net<BR>> To: pirkko.hurme@perendie.fi<BR>> Subject: follow-up<BR>> Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 18:40:16 -0500<BR>> CC: list@grouptalkweb.org; Tianmanhattan@aol.com<BR>> <BR>> Dear Pirkko, reviewing your email question:<BR>> PH in Finland: I would like to up-date my understanding on dependency & addiction <BR>> problems. What readings would you recommend?<BR>> Could I find some articles in internet? My main interest is theoretical.<BR>> <BR>> AB: Hi Pirkko, although there is tons of research that you could access, perhaps using an <BR>> internet search engine, I dared to take the question and allow myself to think about it. <BR>> What came out was the following:<BR>> <BR>> There are scores of theories of addiction. Here are some of my own:<BR>> <BR>> 1. Most people are vulnerable because of a fundamental alienation and a desire to <BR>> escape conventional reality. Many things can contribute this, but I think we should <BR>> imagine it as an aggregate experience, with a certain threshold. Each variable might be <BR>> mild or moderate, but when their aggregate reaches a certain point, the escapist feeling <BR>> becomes a strong motivation in itself.<BR>> -- the subcultural tone---do friends think it's okay, and share in the enjoyment?<BR>> -- the level of being part of a group versus being a loner<BR>> -- having something else to do-- a job, family,<BR>> having those as enjoyable or not<BR>> -- having any sense of life purpose<BR>> -- having any strong or guiding religious or spiritual belief<BR>> -- some slight genetic predisposition, perhaps<BR>> -- having feelings of guilt, shame, fear, or other feelings from which one wishes to <BR>> escape (e.g., PTSD)<BR>> (i.e., drugs/alcohol as self-medication for numbness)<BR>> -- having contexts for drug/alcohol use that add to the pleasure... when I'm <BR>> drunk/high, I do x and that's even more fun<BR>> -- modeling, having had admired people (e.g., a parent) who indulged<BR>> -- accessibility, newness of substance, being modern, fashionable.<BR>> alcoholism very prevalent and severe in the century after distilling spirits as <BR>> a technology became widespread<BR>> -- cheapness of the source of the high<BR>> -- boredom, are there other things to do, as inexpensively?<BR>> -- dulled by work and other life experiences (and many people feel that way, not <BR>> knowing how to access true vitality and aliveness without intoxicating substance), the <BR>> drug or alcohol at least for a while feels more "alive" and sometimes people not only feel <BR>> numb, but the opposite, more alive, vibrant, excited by life, interested, insightful (even <BR>> if this is illusory and little of it is remembered)<BR>> reinforced if this temporary adjusted state does result in freer performance, <BR>> etc.<BR>> -- <BR>> -- etc. Might do a sociodrama for this, get others' inputs.<BR>> <BR>> Problem is that papers tend to be scientific to please editors who think that scientific <BR>> is more respectable, prestigious, than case-study approach. Nomothetic versus <BR>> ideographic -- statistical versus case-study--- this issue of what kind of research is <BR>> more appropriate for non-trivial questions in psychology--- this clouds the issue, because <BR>> science can't really assess well any situation in which there may be scores of variables. <BR>> So the problem of saying something obvious: That there isn't one cause, can't get <BR>> published. But it's so obviously true, and why shouldn't it be?<BR>> <BR>> On my website I have a paper about <BR>> http://www.blatner.com/adam/psyntbk/aggregatexperiences.html that seems to apply here, <BR>> now that you've raised the issue.<BR>> <BR>> What do you think? Warmly, Adam <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Grouptalk mailing list<BR>> List@grouptalkweb.org<BR>> http://grouptalkweb.org/mailman/listinfo/list_grouptalkweb.org<BR><br /><hr />Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. <a href='http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=PID23384::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:NF_BR_sync:082009' target='_new'>Check it out.</a></body>
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