Characteristics of addictive behaviour.

• Mood modification - experience a change in mood, 'high' 'buzz' numbness/ escape, cam fluctuate throughout the day. smoker may get a buzz in the morning, but relaxation in the evening.
• Salience - activity has become the most important thing in an individuals life, dominates their thoughts even when not engaged in behaviour. gambler isn't gambling may spend time working out ways to get money to gamble.
• Relapse - addicts stop engaging in behaviour for a period of time but then goes back to it. days weeks months or years after. someone addicted to alcohol not drinking for 3 months but then binges after a negative event.
• Tolerance - effect of time on addictive behaviour over time need more of drug/behaviour to get same effects usually associated with heroin or alcohol. increasing frequency of bets placed from every weekend to everyday/increasing amount of money bet.
• Withdrawal - unpleasant signs withdrawal, physical such as insomnia, nausea, headaches. psychological such as irritability or moodiness. Heroin addict associated with nausea, pain and high temps.
• Conflict - intrapsychic conflict - conflict within themselves, know AB is damaging but can't stop. Individual knows smoking is bad for health and may lead to cancer but can't stop. Interpersonal conflict - AB compromises individuals relationships with others. A gambler becoming distracted at work and getting in trouble with their boss.