SOC 380 UnderstandingAddiction: Delay Discounting●Stephanie Swayne, MSW, RSW May 26,2022
Delay Discounting●The decline in the present value of a reward withdelay to its receipt; the tendency for remoteoutcomes to have less value●Given a choice, most of us would rather haverewards sooner rather than later, and to havemore of them than less●Immediate rewards often weighdisproportionately in our decision making
Delay Discounting●Numerous studies suggest the magnitude ofdiscounting as a function of delay covaries with theseverity of the substance abuse problem.●Preexisting differences in delay discounting rate mayplay an important role in recovery from substanceabuse●Some studies have also found no differences in delaydiscounting rate associated with abstinence●Delay discounting may be a marker of effectivenessof existing treatments and a target for newtreatments for substance abuse disorders
Delay Discounting●Struggle with impulse control: pledge to stop using inthe near future, but when that future arrived and theyare confronted with the substance, they are unable tofollow through with their pledge●Delay discounting predicts and maintains self-controllapses●Debate over whether delay discounting is bestclassified as a trait or state – can we alter it withtreatment? Some studies suggest it can be changed,i.e. Day et al 2013, Bickel at al 2011)●Behavioural/token economies – contingencymanagement – to be discussed next class
Positive and NegativeReinforcement●Substances have profound positive reinforcement inthe form of how they make one feel in the moment,which is in conflict with the external negativeconsequences – financial, social, criminal,employment, health, and the negativepersonal/internal consequences – feelings ofpowerlessness, hopelessness, etc.
