Date of Award

Summer 8-23-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Kelley Quirk

Second Advisor

Colby R. Rogers

Third Advisor

Jadon Webb

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords

Contextual behavior science, Functional contextualism, Essentialism, Functional relationships, Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Harm-reduction, Addiction, Substance use disorder (SUD), Behavioral addiction, Psychological flexibility, Social-stigma, Interpersonal relationships, Physiological processes, Hypostatic abstraction, Medication assisted treatment, Mindfulness, Experiential avoidance, Paradigm, Workability

Abstract

The dominant essentialist paradigm in addiction treatment often conceptualizes addiction as a curse or plague which seizes the individual afflicted by it. Such views are reinforced by neurobiological interventions like Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). While MAT can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, its long-term efficacy is mixed, and its emphasis on abstinence as a primary outcome limits its scope. Addiction is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by physiological, psychological, social, and systemic factors—including stigma, moral judgment, and structural oppression. Essentialist approaches frequently pathologize individuals and obscure these broader influences. In contrast, contextual behavioral sciences and therapies aligned with functional contextualism such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offer a non-pathologizing, functional approach that prioritizes psychological flexibility and values-based living. Using literary metaphors such as Frankenstein’s Creature, the Werewolf, and Dracula, this paper illustrates how societal narratives construct the "addict" as a modern monster—isolated, feared, and misunderstood. These figures serve as case studies for examining how behavioral and environmental conditions contribute to the maintenance of addiction. By integrating theoretical critique, clinical insight, and empirical research, the paper advocates for a model of care that expands the definition of addiction, honors individual context, and promotes compassionate and pragmatic treatment responses.

Copyright Date

7-18-2025

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Chase Hollander

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

47 pgs

File Size

362 KB

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Available for download on Tuesday, August 25, 2026



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