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Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal—IIIb pp 569–587Cite as

Craving for Alcohol: Role of Drinking Pattern, Psychosocial History, Cognitive Style, Motor Control and Personality Variables

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 85B))

Abstract

Craving, or the compulsion for alcohol, has long been thought to be a cardinal characteristic of the addictive process. Over the years the term has been variously employed, and even today there is a notable absence of consensual agreement about its precise meaning. The construct of craving has been used to describe the desire for alcohol as a primarily physiological need during withdrawal; it has also been employed to describe a motivational condition or absence of self control after a small amount of alcohol has been consumed (loss of control); and thirdly, the craving concept has been advanced to describe an experiential state and psychological need for alcohol during periods of sobriety (Isbell, 1955; Jellinek, 1955).

Experiment I was supported by NIAAA Grant #AA-00091–01 to Dr. R. Tarter. Experiment II was supported by NIAAA Grant #AA-00456–02 to Dr. A. Arthur Sugerman.

The assistance of Nancy Buonpane, Rhoda Perley, Cynthia Sansom and Wanda Czarcinski is gratefully acknowledged.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carrier Clinic Foundation, Belle Mead, N.J., 08502, USA

    Ralph E. Tarter & A. Arthur Sugerman

Authors
  1. Ralph E. Tarter
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  2. A. Arthur Sugerman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    Milton M. Gross

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© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

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Tarter, R.E., Sugerman, A.A. (1977). Craving for Alcohol: Role of Drinking Pattern, Psychosocial History, Cognitive Style, Motor Control and Personality Variables. In: Gross, M.M. (eds) Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal—IIIb. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 85B. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9038-5_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9038-5_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-9040-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-9038-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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