Automatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Addictive Behaviors

Self-Regulation of Addictive Behaviors: A Goal Systems Perspective

One way of understanding the self-regulation of addictive behavior is in terms of goal processes (Gollwitzer & Moskowitz, 1996; Karoly, 1999; Kruglanski, 1996). Changing patterns of addictive behaviors involves the setting of new goals (e.g., reduce my alcohol use) and standards for behavior (e.g., do not have more than two alcoholic beverages on any occasion). The new health behavior goal [Page 412]must be selected in relevant contexts, effectively transformed to behavior, and maintained over time. Self-regulation entails the use of a variety of cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes that allow one to maintain the pursuit of a health goal in the face of competing goals and environmental demands (Karoly, 1993). Effective self-regulation depends not only on what happens during relevant contexts (e.g., one attends a party), but also what the individual does before (e.g., developing plans of how to employ coping strategies), and after the situation is encountered (e.g., evaluation of goal efforts; Karoly, 1999). The extended nature of goal pursuit in efforts to change addictive behaviors means that these phases do not unfold in a linear fashion but rather influence one another in an ongoing manner (e.g., evaluation of success in self-regulation modifies planning for the subsequent occasion). Similarly, the relative importance of self-regulatory processes may change from initiation of an effort to change addiction-related behavior to the long-term maintenance of this change (Rothman, 2000).

In addition to establishing new goals and standards for behavior, the individual must have a means of monitoring internal and external information that signifies progress or failure with respect to these standards to decide whether to take action. Once action is determined as necessary, the individual must select a means to pursue the desired goal (e.g., using a coping skill) and implement specific actions (Karoly, 1993). Even when goals are being executed, they must be protected from other goals that may assume priority (Kuhl, 1985). Kuhl has proposed a number of action control strategies that are used to protect an intention from interference: (1) selective attention to goal-related information, (2) modulation of affect to facilitate goal pursuit, (3) enhancing the emotional or motivational basis for the goal, and (4) inhibition of counterintentional behaviors and competing goals.

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