Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) Practice

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) exam with our comprehensive practice resources, including quizzes, flashcards, and multiple-choice questions designed to enhance your knowledge and confidence for the test.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is a significant characteristic of psychological addiction?

Presence of withdrawal symptoms
Cravings and preoccupation
Tolerance to physical effects
Detoxification process

The correct answer is: Cravings and preoccupation

A significant characteristic of psychological addiction is the presence of cravings and preoccupation with the substance or behavior. In psychological addiction, individuals often find themselves obsessively thinking about the addictive substance or activity, leading to an overwhelming desire to engage in it. This mental fixation can dominate thoughts and significantly impact daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Unlike physical addiction, where withdrawal symptoms and tolerance are more evident and physiological, psychological addiction revolves around emotional and cognitive patterns. The chronic focus on the addiction can lead to emotional distress when the individual is unable to engage in the behavior or obtain the substance, further indicating the psychological components of addiction. Understanding this aspect is crucial for counselors, as addressing the psychological elements, including cravings and the underlying motives behind the addiction, often forms the basis of effective treatment strategies.