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Winner takes it all: Addiction as an example for selfish goal dominance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2014

Christian P. Müller
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. christian.mueller@uk-erlangen.dedavide.amato@uk-erlangen.dehttp://www.psychiatrie.uk-erlangen.de/wir_ueber_uns/mitarbeiter/prof_dr_rer_nat_christian_p_mueller/index_ger.html
Davide Amato
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. christian.mueller@uk-erlangen.dedavide.amato@uk-erlangen.dehttp://www.psychiatrie.uk-erlangen.de/wir_ueber_uns/mitarbeiter/prof_dr_rer_nat_christian_p_mueller/index_ger.html

Abstract

Here we argue that the selfish goal concept may well be suitable to explain inconsistencies not only in micro-behaviors, but also in the gross behavioral repertoire of an individual, which is often associated with psychopathologies, such as addiction. Neurophysiological evidence for pathological conditions like addiction emerged, and this evidence may also serve as an explanatory model for normal behaviors.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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