This document provides a detailed summary for the Psychology AQA A level topic of Addiction. It includes every subtopic and within each one contains enough AO1 and AO3 to thoroughly prepare for a 16 marker (or less). Constructed over the course of two years via multiple AQA resources online and wit...
Inherited characteristics passed 1) Genetic 2) A physiological & psychological s
from parents to kids (info in vulnerability Stress arises when we believe we don’
chromosomes) that make them cope w/ perceived threat (stress
more predisposed to drug
dependence than others Risk factors in the Traumatic stress- Periods of chronic, long lasting
development of a traumatic life event (e.g. as a kid) increases risk
addiction Epstein et al (1998) ‘National Women’s Study’ fo
Blum (1991)- A variant of the A1 gene
creates a low proportion of D2 Internal/external between child rape & adults w/ PTSD + alcohol a
(dopamine) receptors in ones brain’s influences that
reward centre & small ability to activate increase likelihood Self medication model- Pathological behaviour (e.
them, causes low levels of dopamine. one will engage in symptoms of daily stressors (e.g. money, work), st
Drugs increase dopamine levels, addictive behaviour & maintain addiction. Perception that behaviour m
produces stronger feelings of euphoria away+ additional stress when quitting= dependen
1) Explains individual differences- Diathesis stress model 1) Gender differences- McGue (1997) foun
shows how some develop addictions yet others w/ the same twin studies had much greater concordan
E among female MZ twins than DZ, studies
environmental experiences don’t, A1 variant of dopamine has
v alcoholics produce consistent findings- de
been linked w/ cocaine & nic dependence- increases val of the
a generalisaiblity since genetic factors are le
claim about genetic vulnerability/stress since those who inherit
l the development of alcoholism for wome
certain gene variants are more vulnerable to addiction- therefore…
u 2) Varies by type of addiction- Arev
genetics/stress can be a risk in the development of addiction
a interviewed 393 women from subs
2) Practical applications- Weatherman (1998) follow up study of 263
t programmes in Massachusetts, fou
smokers who’d done a national smoking cessation programme,
i association between stress & illicit
found strong correlation between P’s use of stress coping skills &
o between stress & alcohol addiction
ability to maintain abstinence- increases validity since stress
n generalisability since its oversimpli
management techniques have helped reduce addiction- therefore…
,Social learning theory (Bandura, 1977)- 4) Personality characteristics pre
Behaviour is learnt from experiences of Personality substance abuse & developme
observing others & the neg or pos 3) Family
consequences they receive help us influences Barnes et al (2000) addiction prone p
decide on whether to imitate or not Risk factors in scale- Assesses the influence of perso
the development addictive behaviour (vulnerability of b
Parental influence- High parental approval of addictive of addiction to substance abuse in helping escape
behaviours (pos attitude towards drugs etc) is
perceived by a kid via the parenting style (e.g. degree 1) Psychoticism traits- Emotional c
of control, warmth, authority), increases addiction risk impatience & impulsivity with one
Extroversion- Chronically bored so
Sibling influence- Behaviour of older siblings is linked to adolescent substance stimulation to increase brain arou
abuse & deviance. They’ve power so act as a role model who can normalise ticism- Often experience neg, uns
things, sibling will gravitate towards peers who validate these behaviours e.g. high anxiety, low moods (dep
3) Supported by research- Livingston et al (2010) found that final year 3) Contradictory research- Kerr (2000) fo
E school students allowed by parents to drink alcohol at home were addictive behaviour results from a withd
v more likely to drink excessively the next year at college- increases parental involvement (lack of monitoring
a validity of the claim about family influences/personality since family control when told about kids mild substa
l context can influence one to engage in risky behaviour- therefore… than high parental approval- decreases v
u family/personality can be a risk in the development of addiction rather the lack of parental influence inste
a
4) Supported by research- APP scale has been used to successfully 4) Only shows a correlation- There may
t
identify drug addicts & predict severity of addiction, by getting to contributing factors (e.g. genetics, famil
i
them in advance reduces the development of addiction & costs to trauma) that are associated with addicti
o
society in their treatment- increases validity since APP is an effective may not be the initial trigger of addictiv
n
measurement that has led to positive contributions- therefore… decreases validity since its oversimplisti
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