WHICH BEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCES MATTER - THE IMPORTANCE OF FRAME OF REFERENCE IN EXPLAINING ADDICTION

The target article emphasizes the relationship between a matching law- based theory of addiction and the disease model of addiction. In contr ast, this response emphasizes the relationship between the matching la w theory and other behavioral approaches to addiction. The basic diffe rence, I argue, is that the matching law specifies that choice is gove rned by local reinforcement rates. In contrast, economics says that ov erall reinforcement rate controls choice, and for other approaches the re are other measures or no clear prediction at all. The response also differs from the target article in that there is more emphasis on the finding that stimulus conditions determine whether choice is under lo cal or overall reinforcement rate control.