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Maladaptive Behavior and Affect Regulation: A Functionalist Perspective

Maladaptive Behavior and Affect Regulation: A Functionalist Perspective Clinical science has benefited tremendously from taking seriously the proposition that putatively maladaptive behaviors serve psychological functions, prominently among these affect regulation (AR). These functionalist accounts have not only advanced basic clinical science, but also formed the bedrock for the development of effective treatments. Drawing heavily on reinforcement learning theory, we aim to elucidate functional relationships between maladaptive behavior and AR. Specifically, we take the view that maladaptive behaviors are frequently motivated and reinforced by hedonic AR functions (i.e., decreasing negative affect and increasing positive affect) but are also susceptible to becoming stimulus-bound habits. We review empirical evidence related to one such behavior, nonsuicidal self-injury. We close with a brief reflection on future directions. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Emotion American Psychological Association

Maladaptive Behavior and Affect Regulation: A Functionalist Perspective

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Publisher
American Psychological Association
Copyright
© 2020 American Psychological Association
ISSN
1528-3542
eISSN
1931-1516
DOI
10.1037/emo0000660
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Clinical science has benefited tremendously from taking seriously the proposition that putatively maladaptive behaviors serve psychological functions, prominently among these affect regulation (AR). These functionalist accounts have not only advanced basic clinical science, but also formed the bedrock for the development of effective treatments. Drawing heavily on reinforcement learning theory, we aim to elucidate functional relationships between maladaptive behavior and AR. Specifically, we take the view that maladaptive behaviors are frequently motivated and reinforced by hedonic AR functions (i.e., decreasing negative affect and increasing positive affect) but are also susceptible to becoming stimulus-bound habits. We review empirical evidence related to one such behavior, nonsuicidal self-injury. We close with a brief reflection on future directions.

Journal

Emotion – American Psychological Association

Published: Feb 1, 2020

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