Theories Of Behavior – Addictive Behavior

Not long after I started smoking cigarettes, I decided that I wanted to quit. Unfortunately, I was already addicted. I believe that it was the initial feelings I would experience when I first started smoking. After smoking, however, I would begin to habituate to the feelings elicited by the nicotine. I would only feel the negative effects like coughing and being out of breath whenever I would exercise.

I must have quit smoking dozens of times before I was finally successful at remaining smoke-free for nearly 16 years. I think I reinforced by bad behavior whenever I would quit for a few days or a few months and then start back. Since I was not use to smoking, starting back was like starting to smoke in the first place.

It has been a long time since I have smoked a cigarette, and I know if I would ever start smoking again, it would take the rest of my life and then some to stop again. I don’t believe that will happen. However, I could still practice some of the same principles that have helped me not smoke for many years. I believe that in order to control a compulsive, addictive behavior, we need to not just focus on the negative things we will avoid if we abstain from the behavior, but we also need to focus on the positive things we gain from our abstinence. For example, by quitting smoking, I can avoid the negative affects of coughing. Also, I can enjoy the positive effects of being able to hike in the mountains without getting too out of breath. This positive effect, of course, is only positive if I value hiking in the mountains. In general, therefore, values can be helpful in one’s struggle against compulsive, addictive behavior.