Risk factors

Question 1

What are the 5 risk factors in addiction?

Answer 1

1. Personality
2. Stress
3. Peer Groups
4. Genetic influences
5. Family influences

Question 2

Explain personality as a risk factor?

Answer 2

• Addictive personality tends to see traits as the cause of addiction
• Explain why some people become addicts & others don’t, despite many have the same experiences

Question 3

What are the 5 personality traits?

3 sub personalities for No. 4

Answer 3

1. Extraversion
2. Neuroticism
3. Psychoticism
4. Novelty seeking. Inhibited harm avoidance, reward dependent
5. Impulsive

Question 4

Define Extraversion as a personality risk factor?

Answer 4

• Extraverts usually are under aroused & need to gain stimulation in the CNS
• Extraverts have less sensitive Reticular Activating Systems (RAS) so need stimulation
• Introverts (sensitive RAS) seek out less stimulation
• The stimulation could be addictive substances

Question 5

Define Neuroticism as a personality risk factor?

Answer 5

• Neurotics experience negativity & engage in addictive behaviour to alleviate tension through self-medicating
• Based on activity in Limbic system (emotions & memory)
• Neurotics have reactive limbic systems (anxiety/depression)
• Those with less reactive limbic system = less addiction

Question 6

Define Psychoticism as a personality risk factor?
Eysenck?

Answer 6

• Sensation seeking, impulsive & emotionally detached
• Eysenck suggested this is related to dopamine function
• Psycho’s are likely to become addicts as drugs can manage these traits

Question 7

Define Cloniger (1987) personality factors?

Answer 7

1. Novelty seeking
2. Inhibited harm avoidance
3. Reward dependent
   are vulnerable personalities in addiction

Question 8

Define Impulsivity as a personality risk factor?

Answer 8

• Impulsivity leads to risk taking
• Sensation seeking & a chaotic lifestyle = likely to use drugs

Question 9

AO3 Research support for personality
Verhheul (1995)?

Answer 9

P - Research support by Verhheul suggested r’ship between personality disorders & addiction
E - Estimated personality disorders 44% in alcoholics, 70% cocaine addicts & 79% for opiate addicts
E - Suggested personality was common for polydrug users
L - Shows personality influences addiction

Question 10

AO3 Personality
Should take a holistic approach?
(Mayes & Suchman 2006)

(Use eval for all risk factors)

Answer 10

P - No one risk factor is causal in addiction as combinations of risk are more likely than single factors
E - Mayes & Suchman 2006, combinations of risk factors determine severity of addiction
E - Main factors (risky) can also be protective
- Some personality traits, genes, peers & family make addiction less likely e.g. less impulsive
L - Shows a holistic approach provides an accurate picture of addiction risks rather than just one

Question 11

What are the two types of stress as a risk factor?

Answer 11

• Everyday stress
• Traumatic stress

Question 12

Outline Everyday stress & what hypothesis does it come under?

Give an alcohol example

Answer 12

• Tension-reduction hypothesis
• People engage in addictive behaviours to remedy stress/anxiety & so self-medicates
• e.g. wanting a drink at the end of a day can develop to needing one

Question 13

Outline Traumatic stress & what two studies support this?

Answer 13

• Driessen found traumatic events exposes people to addictions
• 30% drug addicts & 15% alcoholics had early trauma
• Prenatal stress linked to addiction due to dodgy dopamine receptor development
• Key element of people combatting risk of addiction is through ‘hardiness’
• Kobasa (1979) mentioned 3 C’s: Commitment (purpose), Control (internal Loc), Challenge (potential addiction is a challenge to beat)

Question 14

AO3 Stress research support
Tovolacci (2013)?

Question 15

AO3 Stress
Issues with cause & effect?

Question 16

AO3 Stress
Useful practical applications?