Tom finally quit smoking 6 months ago after having a heart attack. After a long recovery, he was invited out by a group of old high school buddies. During the course of the evening, Tom smoked a few cigarettes. The next morning, he bought a pack of "low tar" cigarettes, thinking to himself, "I just can't break the habit." This illustrates the

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Tom's behavior illustrates the abstinence violation effect, which is a phenomenon in which an individual who manages to quit a behavior, such as smoking or drinking, experiences guilt or loss of control after violating their abstinence. This often results in a return to the old habit. Tom's relapse to smoking after quitting for six months is an example of abstinence violation effect.

Tom Finally Quit Smoking 6 Months Ago After Having a Heart