DIACHRONIC AND EXTERNALLY-SCAFFOLDED SELF-CONTROL IN ADDICTION

Abstract

Say that Simón and Paula are planning to go to a night club, and both have strong reasons to refrain from drinking alcohol that night. When the time comes, Simón feels a strong desire to have a drink and effortfully inhibits the impulse to get one. Paula, anticipating that she will feel the urge to have a drink once she finds herself at the night club, decides to take some preemptive measures. She leaves at home all payment methods and recruits the help of a friend to watch her closely and remind her of her commitment in case she attempts to get a drink by other means, and eventually manages to go through the night without having one. Did Simón and Paula both exercise self-control?