PLAY PODCASTS
Understanding Addiction: A General Liability or Unique Disorders?
Episode 143

Understanding Addiction: A General Liability or Unique Disorders?

Under the Cortex

March 20, 202523m 56s

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (mcdn.podbean.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

Is there a single explanation that accounts for all addictive behaviors, or is the reality more complex? How can quantitative classification methods help uncover the nuances of substance dependence? 

In this episode, APS's Özge Gürcanlı Fischer Baum speaks with Ashley Watts from Vanderbilt University about her recent research article in Clinical Psychological Science. They discuss how simple explanations to addictive behavior – like the General Addiction Liability theory – may be appealing for a unified treatment approach, but a deeper, more quantitively rich dive into the data draws a more heterogenous picture. The paper argues that addiction follows a more diverse pattern, and the conversation highlights what this approach to addiction means for future research and for treatment strategies. 

If you're interested in learning more about this research, visit psychologicalscience.org. 

Send us your thoughts and questions at  [email protected]