Evaluation of Personality as a risk factor for addiction Flashcards
AO3 - what research study?
P - research has suggested a r/ship between personality disorder and addiction.
E - Verheul et al (1995) - completed a review of research into this area and discovered personality disorders were apparent in 44% of alcoholics and 70% in cocaine addicts, 79% for opiate addiction.
E - They also suggested they were even more common for polydrug users. they shows a correlation between drug addiction and having a personality disorder.
L - this suggests that the development of a personality disorder may link to the development of the addiction. however, we could say that the addiction causes the personality and not the other way around.
- Verheul et al (1995)
- 44% - alc
- 70% - cocaine
- 79% - opioids
AO3 - Another Research study?
P - A research study conducted by Cao and Su (2006) used a vlounteer sample of 2620 high school kids from 4 schools.
E - the pt’s completed several surveys measuring personality varibles (EPQ). they were aged between 12 - 18, with a mean age of 15. 64 students were diagnosed as sufferring from internet addiction, this equated to a prevelance of 2.4%. The group had a significanlty higher rating scores of neuoticism and psychotism than comparison groups.
E - In conclusion, the prevelance of internet addiction in children/adolscents is concerning and appears psychological varibles can largely explain this issue.
- Cao and Su (2006)
- volunteer sample
- 2620
- 4 schools
- EPQ
- 12 - 18
- 15
- 64
- 2.4%
A03 - A negative?
P - A lot of this research can be seen as just correlational.
E - For example, we can’t conclude that neurotiscism causes addiction issues, as the research evidence only suggests a r/ship between the 2 factors.
E - Teeson (2002) also argued a large amount of the research to support this risk factor just implies a correlation, not neccassirly causation.
L - this suggests that we can’t infer cause and effects.
- neurotiscism
- Teeson (2002)
