G. Alan Marlatt

A short biography

The clinical psychologist Marlatt researched addictive behaviours at the University of Washington. He is known for his work on relapse prevention and harm reduction.

He investigated behaviour, context and coping rather than explaining addiction solely through willpower. University-based research connected intervention evaluation with everyday circumstances. Relapse prevention developed collaboratively.

What does this figure represent in psychology?

He represents understanding behaviour in context and reconsidering difficulties during recovery. On the homepage he provides a final link to addiction and change.

High-risk situations, coping skills and interpretations of a lapse are central concepts. Distinguishing a lapse from a sustained return to a pattern avoids reducing recovery to a single verdict. Harm reduction concerns reducing harm in context; it does not mean eliminating every risk.

Key concepts

High-risk situation: circumstances associated with increased likelihood of use. Lapse: distinguishing an event from the whole course of recovery.

Selected works and publications

• Relapse Prevention1985G. A. Marlatt & J. R. Gordon · editörler / editors
• Harm Reduction1998

Links lead to original texts, institutional catalogues or publication records; not every link provides a free full text. Work titles are retained in their original or established language.

Reading in context

Relapse prevention is not a guarantee or a promise of risk-free withdrawal; this history page gives no personalised intervention.