Addiction

Biological modelsThe genetics of addiction

Family and twin studiesAgrawal and Lynskey (2006) – illicit drug abuse and dependence affected by genetic influences, heritability estimates between 45% and 79%Kendler et al. (2003) common genetic factor influences alcohol abuse, drug abuse and dependence, and adult antisocial behaviour Specific genes, specific drugsVariant of the D2 receptor gene DRD2 in ⅔ deceased alcoholics compared to only ⅕ of deceased non-alcoholics (Noble et al., 1991).Individuals with this A1 variant have fewer dopamine receptors in pleasure centres in brain, hence become addicted to drugs that increase levels of dopamine.

Kendler and Prescott, (1998)

Biological modelsThe genetics of addiction

Individual differences

Genetic explanations can explain why

some people become addicted yet others

with same experiences do not

using diathesis-stress model.

Inconsistent research findings

Meta-analysis by Noble (1998) – 48% of severe

alcoholics, 32% of less severe alcoholics and only 16% of

controls had A1 variant of the DRD2 gene. However,

subsequent studies have found no relationship or no relationship between this variant and addiction to

alcohol.

DRD2 and TourettesA1 variant also occurs with several other disorders including Tourettes (45% of cases). Creates a problem for idea of DRD2 being a ‘reward’ gene.

Biological modelsThe genetics of addiction

Tatum O’Neill, was arrested in New York

for trying to buy cocaine (she

eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly

conduct). “Addiction runs in families. It’s a

disease,” she said.

Tatum O’Neill, was arrested in New York

for trying to buy cocaine (she

eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly

conduct). “Addiction runs in families. It’s a

disease,” she said.

Biological modelsDopamine and addiction

INITIATIONDrug-taking triggers the release of dopamine. Mesolimbic pathway in the brain creates memories that link drugs such as cocaine to the rewarding nature of their activation of dopamine receptors.

Biological modelsDopamine and addiction

Supporting evidenceVolkow et al. (2001) gave adults Ritalin which raises

dopamine levels. Some loved the feeling and some hated it. Those who loved it had fewer

dopamine receptors than those who hated it. Explains why

some people, after experimenting with drugs

become addicted and others don’t.

Social stress and dopamine

Research with monkeys (Grant et al., 1998) showed that dopamine system can

be influenced by social interaction. Animals that lost

social status also lost dopamine receptors.

Suggests that stress of poverty makes some people

more vulnerable to addiction.

LimitationThis explanation

ignores the social context of

drug taking although it does

allow for treatment

Synoptic issuesIDA

Cognitive modelsSelf-medication

InitiationThis proposes that individuals intentionally use drugs to ‘treat’ psychological symptoms (e.g. loneliness, depression) from which they suffer. The choice of drug depends on the effect the individual desires. Maintenance and relapse‘Stress relief’ often cited as reason why people smoke. However, smokers report higher levels of stress. When they stop, stress levels decrease, only to rise again when smoking again.Each cigarette has an immediate effect on decreasing withdrawal symptoms but ongoing smoking increases stress levels once more.

Cognitive modelsSelf-medication

Research supportGottdiener et al. (2008) – meta-analysis to test assumption that substance abuse is due to a failure of ego control, i.e. the inability to control the impulse to self-medicate. Participants with substance abuse disorders showed significantly lower levels of ego control than control group of non-alcoholics. Problems of cause and effectSelf-medication model predicts that distress must precede need for self-medication. Supported by research with sexually abused women who used alcohol to remove resulting sexual inhibitions (Sanjuan et al., 2009), but other studies have found no preceding distress prior to self-medication.

Cognitive modelsExpectancy theory

InitiationDrug or alcohol use escalates into addiction as a result of the expectations that an individual has about the costs and benefits of that activity.Among heavy drinkers, drinking has been shown to be associated with expectations of social and physical pleasure, tension reduction, enhanced cognitive and motor performance and greater sociability (Brown, 1985). Maintenance and relapse

As an addiction develops, it is maintained less by conscious expectations and more by unconscious expectations involving automatic processing.This explains the loss of control that many addicts report concerning their addictive behaviour and the difficulties they face in abstaining.

Cognitive modelsExpectancy theory

Subjective evaluation

Most research measures the likelihood of experiencing certain

effects, but Leigh (1987) suggests

subjective evaluation of outcomes more

important determinant of drinking behaviour.

Addiction or consumption?

Few studies distinguish between ‘problematic

behaviour’ such as binge-drinking or drug-

taking and addictive (involving loss of

control) behaviour.

Synoptic issues

IDA

Learning modelsOperant conditioning

Initiation and positive reinforcementBehaviours that lead to consequences that the individual finds rewarding are likely to be repeated. Crack cocaine produces massive activation of dopamine receptors in mesolimbic system which is rewarding. Maintenance and relapseAfter repeated exposure to drug, withdrawal symptoms develop which are the body’s compensatory reactions.Taking the drug is now necessary to avoid these unpleasant sensations, an example of negative reinforcement.

Learning modelsOperant conditioning

Strengths of explanationCan explain how process of addiction develops and is maintained without conscious choice or awareness and why addicts experience conflict when they try to abstain.Also explains why many addicts report a decrease in other drives such as eating. Addiction creates drives that are hard to satisfy therefore take priority over other drives. Problems of explanationThere are aspects of addiction that are not explained by this explanation. Robinson and Berridge (1993) point out that many people take potentially addictive drugs at some times in their lives yet relatively few become addicts.This suggests that there are other psychological and physiological factors are involved in the transition from consumption to addiction.

Learning modelsClassical conditioning

Drug effect Bodily

response

Drug effect Bodily

responseBodily response

No response

Initiation and secondary reinforcersStimuli that precede or occur at the same time as a learned stimulus become secondary reinforcers, deriving their influence by association. To an alcoholic, sights and sounds of a pub elicit same physiological responses (e.g. arousal) as alcohol itself. To a heroin addict, the drug paraphernalia (syringe, lighter, teaspoon) has the same effect.

Maintenance and relapseDrug habit is maintained through threat of withdrawal symptoms. Drug effect is now UCS, body’s response as it tries to restore equilibrium is the UCR. Stimuli that precede the drug dose become CS. If presented alone, CS causes CR but this creates disequilibrium if no drug dose.

Learning modelsClassical conditioning

Research supportMajor claim is that stimuli that occur

at same time produce same response. Evidence in support of this

prediction from study of soldiers returning from Vietnam who were

less likely to relapse because sights and sounds associated with their drug-taking were now different.

Implications for treatmentDrummond et al. (1990) propose the

use of cue exposure (presenting cues without opportunity to engage

in drug-taking. This leads to stimulus discrimination, as without the

reinforcement of the actual drug, the association between cue and drug is extinguished, reducing the cravings.

Synoptic issues

IDA

Smoking addiction

Starting smokingSmoking initially

symbolic act conveying messages such as ‘I’m tough’ or

‘I’m rebellious’. Desired image

sufficiently powerful to put up with

unpleasantness of smoking until physical

effects take over. Socioeconomic status and addictionResearch suggests an association between addiction to nicotine and social disadvantage (Fidler et al., 2008), which would explain why poorer smokers find it difficult to quit (they have a higher nicotine intake).

Effects of nicotine

Nicotine activates receptors in the brain

which leads to the release of dopamine. This creates feelings of pleasure for, but is short-lived and must be repeated to avoid

withdrawal symptoms.

Smoking addiction

Smoking and popularity

Peer popularity and smoking link supported in

study which found positive relationship

between smoking at age 16 and boys’ popularity two years later (Mayeux

et al., 2008). This was not the case for

other risky behaviours such as the use of alcohol and sexual activity at age

16.

Socioeconomic status

Link between socioeconomic status and nicotine intake supported in French study with poor housing conditions linked

to greater nicotine intake.

Suggests that interventions must also attempt to improve poor

smokers’ living conditions to lower incidence of

smoking. Effects of nicotineKhaled et al., (2009) study supports possibility that long-term smoking has adverse effect on mood. Incidence of depression was highest among smokers and lowest among ‘never smoked’.

Gambling addictionGenetic factorsPathological gambling appears to run in families.Twin study (Shah et al., 2005), using adult participants found evidence of genetic transmission of gambling among men.Black et al. (2006) found first degree relatives of pathological gamblers were more likely to suffer from pathological gambling than were more distant relatives

Sensation seeking and boredom avoidanceZuckerman (1979) – individual differences in need for optimal amounts of stimulation. High sensation seekers have lower appreciation of risk and anticipate arousal as more positive than do low sensation seekers.Blaszczynski et al. (1990) – pathological gamblers had higher boredom proneness scores than control group of non-gamblers.

Gambling addiction Genetics or

environment?Difficult to disentangle

the relative influences of genetics and

environment, but Slutske et al., (2000) estimates

that 64% of the variation in risk for pathological

gambling can be accounted for in terms

of genetic factors alone. What is inherited?A genetic predisposition for gambling may work indirectly through the trait of impulsivity.A number of studies have found supporting evidence for this relationship, i.e. that impulsivity as an inherited trait is a significant predictor of the development of pathological gambling.

Lack of research supportThe claim that gamblers should be higher sensation seekers appears to be true for casino gamblers but not for gamblers who bet on horse racing in a betting shop (Coventry and Brown, 1993). This challenges the view of gambling as a homogenous activity.

Synoptic issues

IDA

THEORY OF REASONED ACTION

AttitudeAn individual's positive or negative feeling associated with performing a specific behaviour. They will hold a favourable attitude toward a behaviour if they believe that the performance of the behaviour will lead to mostly positive outcomes.

Subjective Norm (plus descriptive norm)Determined by an individual's normative beliefs that significant others think they should or should not perform the behaviour, plus motivation to comply with these norms.

IntentionThe likelihood of doing something, like buying a brand or losing weight. It is a type of judgment about how an individual will behave toward a particular object or their intention to engage in a particular behaviour.

THEORY OF REASONED ACTION

THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR

A person’s intention to carry out a particular behaviour is only possible if they believe they have some behavioural control over that behaviour.

This will be determined by their past experiences or perceived obstacles.

If the individual has favourable attitudes and subjective norms toward a particular behaviour, the likelihood of them actually performing behaviour in question increases with their perceived behavioural control.

THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR

10. Reasons for her addiction include (150 words): Social modeling (parents and friends), need for peer acceptance, rebelliousness, nicotine addiction etc.

11. Theory of reasoned action (125 words): Attitude: A positive or negative feeling associated with performing a specific behaviour, e.g. Sally may believe that smoking will make her popular or may help to lose weight. Subjective Norm: What she believes others significant others think about her acting in this way and her motivation to comply. Intention: The likelihood of her doing something.

12. Two examples of public health interventions (100 words): e.g. Shock tactics showing cigarettes dripping fat to demonstrate the effect of smoking on arteries (Tobacco Education Campaign, 2004)

13. Effectiveness (250 words): e.g. Interventions such as the TEC have quadrupled the effectiveness of the government's anti-smoking campaign, according to the tracking study. The study found advertising campaigns prompted 32% of recent attempts to stop smoking compared to GP’s 21%.