Jessica has a drug problem and has been seeking substance abuse counselling. She has remained drug free for several months, but last week she ran into some friends with whom she used to frequently get high and she ended up using some drugs with them. Afterwards, she felt terrible about breaking her commitment to remain drug free and concluded that she must not have the self-discipline and willpower needed to quit. Within a week, she had fully resumed her harmful drug behaviour. This example best demonstrates the phenomenon called:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The abstinence violation effect occurs when an individual, after a lapse, feels a sense of failure and guilt, leading to a full relapse. Jessica's experience of using drugs again and feeling terrible about it, followed by a complete return to her previous drug use, exemplifies this effect.

Jessica Has a Drug Problem and Has Been Seeking Substance