Contributions from behavioral theories of choice to an analysis of alcohol abuse.

Behavioral theories of choice are applied to an analysis of the conditions under which alcohol consumption emerges as a highly preferred activity from among a set of available activities. The approach highlights two classes of variables as important determinants of alcohol preference: (a) direct constraints on access to alcohol and (b) availability of other reinforcers and constraints on access to them. A selective review of studies of human and animal alcohol and drug self-administration indicates that preference for alcohol and drug consumption (a) varies inversely with direct constraints on consumption and (b) varies inversely with the availability of alternative reinforcers and directly with constraints on access to them. Environmental conditions under which alcohol consumption emerges as a highly preferred activity may thus involve minimal constraints on access to alcohol and sparse alternative reinforcers and/or heightened constraints on access to them. The latter variables may be more important in determining alcohol consumption in natural environments. A research application to alcoholic relapse is described, and general implications for clinical research in natural environments are explored. Limitations of the approach and its complementary relation to other approaches to studying alcohol abuse are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)