Shifts in behavioral allocation patterns as a natural recovery mechanism: Postresolution expenditure patterns.

Dynamic changes in monetary allocation occurred during the postresolution year. As hypothesized, compared to the groups who abstained or relapsed, the moderation group shifted spending in ways that, overall, yielded higher value alcohol-free reinforcement that should reinforce recovery while they enjoyed some limited nonproblem drinking below heavy drinking thresholds. These findings add to evidence that moderation entails different behavioral regulation processes than abstinent and relapse outcomes, which were more similar to one another.