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Summary Describing Addiction - AQA Psychology
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Describing AddictionPHYSICAL DEPENDENCY
A result of long term use. For example, daily use for weeks or months.
A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is
discontinued. For example, delirium tremors with alcohol cessation.
In fact normal day-to-day functioning can become reliant on the substance. For example, having an
alcoholic drink before work.
Often accompanied by tolerance. For example, the user requires increased doses in order to obtain
the same desired effect.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY
The condition that exists when a person must continue to take a drug in order to satisfy intense
mental and emotional craving for the drug.
The individual thinks that they cannot cope with work and social life without a particular drug such as
alcohol or nicotine.
Absence of the drug causes the individual to feel anxious, irritable or depressed, and have cravings
for the substance.
Thus the addiction is in the mind and becomes the central focus to a person's life.
TOLERANCE
The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug (or behaviour), requiring the user
to take larger and larger doses (or behaviours) before experiencing the same effect.
The body's adjustment to chronic use
Can occur in at least 3 ways:
● Metabolic tolerance - where enzymes responsible for breaking down the drug become more
effective reducing its effect
● Neuroadaptation – where changes at the synapse occur e.g. downregulation may make
receptors less sensitive or fewer in number; reducing the effects of drugs/behaviours
● Learned tolerance – is the result of practice as the person has learned to function normally
whilst under the influence of drug (and dealing with its effects)
WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME
Unpleasant physical or psychological effects following discontinued use of a drug,
Can include shakes or tremors, vomiting, blood pressure/heart rate changes. Depends on the
drug/behaviour. Recovery should be idiosyncratic (specific) to the substance.
These effects are the consequence of the body reacting to cessation of the drug
This often leads onto relapse as users find withdrawal symptoms intolerable
2 types:
● Acute withdrawal (within hours but usually stops within weeks)
● Post acute withdrawal (brain slowly reorganises and balances which could take months or
years)
DEFINING ADDICTIONS
Walters, 1999 - The persistent and repetitive enactment of a behaviour pattern, which includes:
● Progression
● Pre-occupation with the activity
● Perceived loss of control
● Persistence, despite negative LT consequences
Griffiths, 1999:
● Progression
● Pre-occupation with the activity
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