Addiction as an Adaptive Response: Is Smoking a Functional Behavior?

Abstract

Theories on tobacco addiction divide into two camps, the exposure orientation and the adaptive orientation. The exposure orientation suggests that the use of tobacco is addictive because of the reinforcement properties of tobacco or because of tobacco's biochemical-altering effects. The adaptive orientation views tobacco addiction as a functional response to distress and, therefore, a form of sub-optimal adaptive behavior. Though the two views are not mutually exclusive, the case is made that the primary cause of addiction is explained by the adaptive orientation, and not the exposure orientation. Viewing not only tobacco addiction but all addictions from the adaptive orientation suggests different approaches to social policy and psychotherapy than those presently espoused by the exposure orientation.