Addictive behavior as molar behavioral allocation: Distinguishing efficient and final causes in translational research and practice.
Jalie A TuckerJoanna BuscemiJames G MurphyDerek D ReedRudy E VuchinichPublished in: Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors (2022)
Although efficient cause analysis has dominated translational research, research supports viewing addictive behavior as molar behavioral allocation. Increasing concern with rate variables underpinning final cause analysis and considering how study methods and temporal units of analysis inform an efficient or final cause analysis may advance understanding of addictive behaviors that occur over time in dynamic environmental contexts. This approach provides linkages between behavioral science and disciplines that study social determinants of health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).