P2 Health studies Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the brain’s reward pathway for dopamine?
The drug binds to receptors in the VTA, triggering dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Drugs act as agonists and cause dopamine neurons to fire.
What is dopamine?
A neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and motivation, which the brain associates with addictive substances. Frequent use leads to reduced sensitivity, requiring more substance for pleasure.
What role does the DRD2 gene play in addiction?
It influences the amount of dopamine receptors in the brain.
What did Ponce et al. (2008) study?
The study examined the effects of alcohol on dopamine activity in social drinkers.
What were the findings of Setiawan et al. (2013)?
High-risk drinkers showed greater activity in the nucleus accumbens when consuming alcohol compared to low-risk drinkers.
What is the Theory of Planned Behavior?
It states that behavior results from the belief that the behavior is positive, social approval, and perceived ability to manage the behavior.
What does Self-Determination Theory argue?
Behavior results from three basic human needs: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Meeting these needs leads to intrinsic motivation.
What did Johnston and White (2003) find regarding binge drinking?
The Theory of Planned Behavior accounted for 69% of the variance in binge drinking behavior among participants.
What did Wong and Rowland (2013) discover about autonomy?
Students with higher levels of autonomy were less likely to report drinking in the last 6 months.
What is Social Cognitive Theory?
It describes learning behavior by observing others and emphasizes the role of self-efficacy in drug use initiation.
What did Bauman et al. (1990) find about parental influence on smoking?
Adolescents whose parents did not smoke were less likely to try smoking themselves.
What was the Rat Park study by Alexander (1981) about?
It showed that rats raised in a social environment consumed less morphine than those raised in isolation.
What did Robins (1974) find about heroin use in Vietnam soldiers?
Only 5% of soldiers became readdicted after returning home, suggesting social support helped them overcome addiction.
What are the strengths of Social Cognitive Theory?
It provides insight into why individuals may initiate drug use.
What are the limitations of Social Cognitive Theory?
It does not predict who will develop an addiction and lacks consideration of biological factors.
What are the strengths of the risk/protective factors approach?
It is holistic and supported by research.
What are the limitations of the risk/protective factors approach?
It is hard to measure and individual differences can affect outcomes.
