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Addiction Flashcards

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1
Q

What is addiction?

A

A compulsive behavior where you are compelled to act in a certain way

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2
Q

What are the two types of dependency in additions?

A

Physical and psychological

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3
Q

What is a physical dependency?

A

A result of long term use i.e. daily use for weeks/months and you body depends on the drug for survival

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4
Q

What is a physical dependency typically accompanied by?

A

A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued. (delirium tremors) also tolerance of the drug

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5
Q

What physical symptoms is related to alcohol withdrawal?

A

Delirium tremors

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6
Q

What is a psychological dependency?

A

the condition that exists when a person must continue to take a drug in order to satisfy intense mental and emotional cravings for the drug.

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7
Q

According to the psychological dependency, what could the absence of a drug do to someone with an addiction?

A

cause the individual to feel anxious, irritable or depressed, and have cravings for the substance

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8
Q

What is meant by tolerance of an addiction?

A

The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug (or behaviour), requiring the user to take larger and larger doses (or behaviours) before experiencing the same effect

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9
Q

What are the three way’s the body adjusts to chronic use of a drug?

A

Metabolic tolerance
Neuroadaptation
Learned tolerance

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10
Q

What is meant by Metabolic tolerance?

A

where enzymes responsible for breaking down the drug become more effective reducing its effect

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11
Q

What is meant by neuroadaptation?

A

Where changes at the synapse occur e.g. downregulation may make receptors less sensitive or fewer in number; reducing the effects of drugs/behaviours

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12
Q

What is meant by learned tolerance?

A

The result of practice as the person has learned to function normally whilst under the influence of drug (and dealing with its effects)

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13
Q

What is meant by withdrawal syndrome?

A

unpleasant physical or psychological effects following discontinued use of a drug

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14
Q

What are examples of withdrawal symptoms?

A

shakes or tremors, vomiting, blood pressure/heart rate changes -> all depending on the drug/behaviour

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15
Q

What does withdrawal symptoms often lead to for someone with an addiction?

A

Often leads to relapse as users find withdrawal symptoms intolerable

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16
Q

What are the two types of withdrawal?

A

Acute withdrawal
Post acute withdrawal

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17
Q

What is meant by acute withdrawal?

A

Within hours but usually stops within weeks

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18
Q

What is meant by post acute withdrawal?

A

brain slowly reorganises and balances; could take months/years

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19
Q

What is a risk factor?

A

A variable associated with an increased risk of disease or infection

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20
Q

What would the risk factors be for developing diabetes?

A

family history, age, or ethnicity

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21
Q

What are the 5 risk factors for addiction?

A

stress
personality
peer influences
genetic influence
family influence

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22
Q

What is meant by personality as an risk factors for addiction?

A

The ‘addictive personality’ tends to see key traits as the cause of addictive behaviours

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23
Q

Who proposed a theory for personality as a risk factor for addiction, and What were the three super traits they put forward?

A

Eysenck 1967 -
Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism

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24
Q

What is meant by extraversion?

A

Extraverts are chronically under aroused and as such may engage in addictive behaviours to gain stimulation to raise arousal in the CNS

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25
What is meant by neuroticism?
People high on this trait experience negative affect e.g. anxiety, and may engage in addictive behaviours to alleviate tension through a form of self-medication.
26
what is meant by psychoticism?
This relates to sensation-seeking, impulsivity and being emotionally detached.
27
What did Eysenck suggest psychoticism was related to?
dopamine function - individuals high on this trait are most suspcetible to addictions as they help manage these personality traits
28
Under personality as a risk factor for addiction, what did Cloniger 1987 propose?
that individuals high in novelty seeking, inhibited harm avoidance, and reward dependence are extremely vulnerable to substance abuse.
29
What is the key trait for personality as a risk factor for addiction?
Impulsivity which leads to risk taking, sensation seeking and a chaotic lifestyle
30
A strength of personality as a risk factor is the research by Coa and Su 2006, what did they find?
they surveyed 2620 volunteers between 12-18 years on personality variables and internet usage. 64 students were diagnosed with an internet addiction. These individuals had higher neuroticism and psychoticism
31
The research by Verheul et al 1995 supports the claim of personality as a risk factor for addiction, what did they find?
personality disorders were estimated to be in 44% of alcoholics, 70% of cocaine addicts, and 79% of opiate addicts
32
A weakness of the personality influence as a risk factor for addiction is the research by Teeson 2002, what did they find?
personality research is largely correlational so there's a cause and effect issue. It's possible for someone to become higher in novelty seeking and impulsivity AFTER they have become addicted
33
A weakness of the personality influence as a risk factor for addiction is that there are other alternatives, what are they?
genetics, stress, family influence, peer influence - may all play a role in addiction and should be considered
34
Who's proposed the 'tension-reduction hypothesis' and what does it suggest?
Cappell and Greeley 1987 - people many engage in addictive behaviours in an attempt to reduce tension and anxiety
35
What does 'tension' do in tersm of stress as a risk factor of addiction?
Creates a heightened sense of arousal, and much addictive behaviour will reduce this state
36
What are the two types of stress outlined in the stress factor in risks for addiction?
everyday stress traumatic stress
37
What is meant by everyday stress?
People use addictions to relieve anxiety and the hassles of everyday life such as relationship problems, money worries, and work place stress
38
What is meant by traumatic stress?
Research has found that people exposed to severe stress are more vulnerable to addictions, especially children who have experienced, for example, parental loss or child abuse.
39
What did Driessen et al 2008 find in relation to traumatic stress as a risk factor for addiction?
30% of drug addicts and 15% of alcoholics also suffer from PTSD
40
What did Gelkopf et al 2002 suggest about addiction?
That addiction can become a coping mechanism and some individuals intentionally use different forms of pathological behaviours to 'treat' the psychological symptoms they experience of everyday stressors i their lives
41
One strength of stress as a risk factor for addiction is the research from Piazza 1989, what did they find?
A link between stress and addiction in rats - pinched the rats tail, which caused the rat to seek out amphetamines more often
42
A strength of stress as a risk factors for addiction is the research from Schneier, what did they find?
alcohol dependence occurs twice as much in those with social phobias than those without
43
A weakness of stress as a risk factors for addiction is the cause and effect issue, what is the issue?
Being addicted itself is a stressful situation - addiction may cause stress
43
A strength of stress as a risk factors for addiction is the research put forward by Tavolacci et al 2013, what did they find?
They found that high stress in university students was linked to smoking regularly
44
According to psychologists, at what age do peer networks replace parents in becoming the primary source of reinforcement? who proposed this idea?
12-14 years - Hinde 1985
45
What is important to know about peer groups and the age of children when their primary source of reinforcement become their peer networks?
During this age many adolescents experiment with some addictive behaviours e.g. smoking, drinking, or video gaming
46
What are the two ways in which peer networks influence addiction?
Research into SLT Social identity theory
47
What is meant by the research into SLT as a peer network influence for addiction?
States that you learn through observation of others and those they have most contact with. Peer encouragement and approval can also serve as a big reinforcement.
48
Will SLT cause someone to develop an addiction itself?
No, once an addictive behaviour has started direct experience determines whether they are continued. The SLT is just the initiation of an addiction not the maintanence
49
What is meant by the social identity theory as a peer network for risks of addiction?
This theory states that much of our social identity is gained through being members of ingroups, where we adopt the norms and behaviors central to the group. For example, in peer groups where status as a 'smoker' in central, then individuals are likely to be similar in their smoking habits and consumption
50
Who proposed the social identity theory?
Tajfel 1970
51
A strength of peer groups being a risk factor of addiction is the research to support it by Sussman and Ames', what did they find?
peer use of drugs was one of the best predictors of future drug use by others
52
A weakness of peer groups being a risk factor of addiction is the cause and effect issues, what is the issue?
It's difficult to prove which one came first, people who use drugs may also seek out other peers who use drugs
53
A weakness of peer groups being a risk factor of addiction is that it ignores individual difference, what could this include?
Age may play a big role in developing an addiction due to peers - a 14 year old trying to establish themselves may be more susceptible to peer group influence than older adolescents
54
A strength of peer groups being a risk factor of addiction is the practical application, what is this?
Social norms interventions that challenge peer influences
55
What is meant by genetic influences as a risk factor for addictions?
That individuals may have a genetic vulnerability to developing addictive behaviours
56
What does the genetic influence explanation help explain why some people develop addictions?
Some may become addicted to a substance/behaviour after just sampling it due to their genetics, which is why others can try it without developing a full blown addiction
57
What gene is it suggested that gamblers inherit? and who suggested this?
A faulty A1 DRD2 gene - comings et al 1996
58
What does does a faulty A1 DRD2 gene effect a pathological gambler?
reduces the number of dopamine receptors in our pleasure centres within the limbic symptom - less sensitive to rewards so seek out extra stimulating activities
59
What did Blum et al 1996 propose?
Reward Deficiency Syndrome - 69% of a sample of alcohol dependent users and 51% of a sample of cocaine dependent users had this genetic variant
60
A strength of the genetic influence as a risk factor for addiction is the research by Shields et al 1960, what did they find?
Examined the concordance between 42 twin pairs that were reared apart - only 9 pairs were actually discordant and the 33 were concordant - genetic similarity is a major factor in starting to smoke
61
A weakness of the genetic influence as a risk factor for addiction is that it biologically deterministic, how is it?
Genetics imply there is no free will - Blum and the faulty A1 DRD2 gene
62
What is meant by family influences as a risk factor of addiction?
Many theories in psychology see the role of the family as critical for socialisation and development, and their influence is likely to be seen in addictive behaviours and attitudes to addictive behaviours.
63
What three things do family influences affect in the risk of developing an addiction?
Social Learning Theory Expectations Parenting style
64
What does the SLT suggest under the family influences as a risk factor of addiction?
we model our behaviour on key role models and some of the most critical role models are in the home (parents and siblings). We may learn to become addicted to behaviours through vicarious reinforcement and role models
65
How do peer influences shape our expectations and provide a risk of addiction?
Families shape our expectations and schemas - when relating to addiction we can see th***********

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