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Summary addiction psychology aqa alevel
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AddictionDescribing addiction
Addiction: disorder in which an individual takes a substance/ Withdrawal syndrome: collection of symptoms
engages in behaviour but it them becomes compulsive associated with abstaining from a drug. Symptoms are
almost always opposite the drugs, and they indicate a
physical dependence. They include: shakiness, anxiety,
Physical dependence: unpleasant physical symptoms (withdrawal insomnia, headaches. The motivation to continue taking
syndrome) if the person abstains from using the drug. Often the drug is partially to avoid withdrawal symptoms
occupied by an increased tolerance (secondary form of psychological dependence)
Psychological dependence: drug becomes central part of ones Two phases of withdrawal:
thoughts, emotions and activities
Acute withdrawal- within hours of drug, physical
cravings are intense as the body is yet to adjust
Cravings: intense desire to repeat the experience associated with a Post-acute withdrawal- lasts for months or years,
drug/ activity. If cravings not satisfied, it may lead to intense anxiety emotional and psychological turmoil due to alternating
periods of dysfunction and brain reorganising and
rebalancing itself
Tolerance: individual’s response to a drug is reduced and they need
greater doses for the same effect. There are 3 ways tolerance can
occur:
- Metabolic tolerance: enzymes responsible to metabolizing
drug do it more efficiently over time, resulting in lower
concentrations in the blood
- Prolonged drug use leads to changes in the receptor
density, reducing response to normal dose of drug
- Learned tolerance: reduced effects as they’ve learnt to
function normally when under the influence
, Genetic vulnerability: SLT (bandura) – behaviours learnt through those who we have most contact (parents)
Predisposition to a vulnerability (never Style of parenting: extent parents have a positive attitude towards addictive thing .
become addicted if they don’t take it) but degree of parental control (parent intervening), parental warmth (how much positive
explains why some people become addicted affect parent shows for child), authoritative parents (shows warmth but exerts appropriate
and some don’t control)
Blum found that vulnerable individuals have a Sibling influence: stronger than parental, sees older siblings as ‘role models’ and
low level of dopamine and Pianezza found that siblings gravitate towards people who validate older sibling’s behaviours
they lack the enzyme which is responsible for (+) Livingston found final year students who where allowed to drink by parents are more
metabolising nicotine likely to excessively drink the following year
(+) explains individual differences (-) studies focus on parents
Peer
ADDICTION- RISK FACTORS Three elements to peer influence:
Personality: impulsivity seemingly links to addiction and 1. Peer associates with others who drink alcohol
individuals with neurotic and psychopathic traits are more likely to 2. Peers provide more opportunities
be vulnerable 3. Individual overestimates how much peers are drinking
and drink more to keep up
- Neuroticism: negative/ unstable emotions / high emotions and
low moods Normative social influence: give in to pressure to be accepted
- Psychoticism: emotional coldness/ aggression impatience/
impulsivity Social identity theory: identity formed by groups they’re part
- Extroversion: chronically underoused/ bored/ seek external of, and as it essential to be associated with in-group to be
stimulation socially accepted, individual is likely to adopt behaviours.
Identify with ingroup and be separate from out-group
(+) gossop and Eysenck found addicts personalities on an EPQ
showed association between neuroticism and psychoticism with Social networks: social networks compromise of people with
Stress: people engage in behaviours to deal with stress. similar habits (smokers befriend smokers)
Self-medication: different forms of pathological behaviours such as drugs/ Peer pressure and SLT: peers act as vicarious reinforcement,
gambling are used to ‘treat’ psychological symptoms. Even if it doesn’t make addiction learnt through observing peers and modelling this
things better, there’s a perception that it does. Stressors may contribute to the behaviour
initiation and maintenance of addictions. Indirect peer influence: an adult who uses +ve parenting may
Traumatic stress: PTSD develops after extremely traumatic events and this act as an effective mentor for child’s friends
links to increased risk of drug addiction. Epstein found a link between (+) practical applications- peer pressure resistance
childhood rape and alcohol addiction programme
(-) correlational data (-) groups cause addiction or addiction attracts similar
(+) offers practical applications individuals ?
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