Addictive behaviours have six key characteristics identified by Griffiths (2005). Salience is when the behaviour dominates a person’s life, becoming their main focus. Mood modification refers to the way the behaviour changes how the person feels, such as creating a buzz or helping them escape. tolerance develops when more of the behaviour or substance is needed to get the same effect. Withdrawal symptoms occur if the behaviour stops, such as irritability or nausea. Conflict arises when the behaviour arises when the behaviour causes problems in relationships or internal struggles. Finally, relapse is the tendency to return to the behaviour after a period of abstinence, even following treatment.
