risk factors in the development of addiction

Question 1

What is a risk factor?

Answer 1

. anything internal or external
. that increases the likelihood of an individual
. starting to engage in addictive behaviour or substance abuse

Question 2

Risk factor 1: genetic vulnerability

Answer 2

. possible we may inherit predisposition
. that increases risk of this disorder - addiction
. is an interaction between genes and environmental factors
. individual not become addicted unless exposed to substance/opportunity

Question 3

Reason why genetic vulnerability occurs: D2 receptors

Answer 3

. in brain no of receptors - communicate with neurotransmitters
. D2 receptors responsible communicating to dopamine
. no D2 receptors determined by genes
. fewer receptors associated with addiction - leads to problems with experiencing pleasure from daily activities (chocolate) - so turn to more addictive substances (nicotine) to experience same feeling pleasure - compensate for deficiency

Question 4

Reason why genetic vulnerability occurs: metabolism

Answer 4

. some able to metabolise addictive substances lot faster than others
. so make it easier to become addicted
. may need to have more to have safe effect
. rate of metabolism inherited through genes

Question 5

Reason why genetic vulnerability occurs: metabolism - Pianezza

Answer 5

. Pianezza found some ppl lack fully functioning enzyme - CYP2A6 - metabolises nicotine
. so are less likely to smoke than those with fully functioning
. expression of CYP2A6 gene is genetically determined

Question 6

AO3 for genetic vulnerability as a risk factor in addiction: correlational

Answer 6

P - research genetic vulnerability as risk factor addiction often based correlational research where cause and effect not be established
E - research shown link between risk factors (genetics) and addiction - often not show which came first
E - e.g. could be that addiction causes abnormalities D2 receptors
L - so research lacks internal validity not allow us conclude genetic vulnerability does make person more at risk addiction

Question 7

AO3 for genetic vulnerability as a risk factor in addiction: RTS by Kendler

Answer 7

P - RTS genetic vulnerability as risk factor addiction - Kendler et al - using data from national swedish adoption study
E - looked at adults been adopted as children from biological families where least one person had addiction
E - they later had significantly greater risk developing addiction compared to adopted people no addicted parents in biological families
L - gives validity to genetic vulnerability as risk factor addiction

Question 8

Risk factor 2: stress

Answer 8

. ppl who experience stress turn to addictive substances/behaviours
. as a form of self-medication
. periods of chronic long-lasting stress/traumatic events childhood linked to increased risk developing addiction

Question 9

What is stress?

Answer 9

. ppl experiences state of arousal
. physical and psychological state
. occurs when they believe do not have ability to cope
. with perceived threat

Question 10

Research into genetic vulnerability: Anderson + Teicher

Answer 10

. found early experiences of severe stress
. damaging effects on young brain
. in sensitive period of development
. create a vulnerability to later stress
. also stressful experiences in later life could trigger vulnerability
. more likely person self-medicate with substances/behavioural addictions

Question 11

AO3 for stress as a risk factor in addiction: correlational

Answer 11

P - research stress as risk factor addiction often based correlational research where cause and effect not be established
E - research shown link between risk factors (stress) and addiction - often not show which came first
E - e.g. could be addiction causes person become stressed (loss money, effect on job) rather than stress (actual/perceived ability to cope) causing addiction
L - so research lacks internal validity not allow us conclude stress does make person more risk addiction

Question 12

Risk factor 3: personality

Answer 12

. addictive personality suggests correlation between certain traits and addiction
. anti-social personality disorder (APD) leads to high vulnerability to addiction
. including neurotic and psychotic personality traits
. ppl have these pathological personalities more likely become addicts
. behaviour/substance helps them - offers them relief

Question 13

Personality traits: neuroticism

Answer 13

. high levels of neuroticism =
. high levels of anxiety
. irritability
. low self-efficacy (confidence/willpower)

Question 14

Personality traits: psychoticism

Answer 14

. high levels of psychoticism
. aggressive, impulsive, emotionally detached
. leading to risk taking/sensation seeking behaviour

Question 15

AO3 for personality as a risk factor in addiction: supporting research - Eysenck

Question 16

AO3 for personality as a risk factor in addiction: correlational

Answer 16

P - research personality as risk factor addiction often based correlational research where cause and effect not be established
E - research shown link between risk factors (personality) and addiction - often not show which came first
E - e.g. could be addiction causes person show traits (anxiety, irritability, impulsive) - rather than these traits cause addiction
L - so research lacks internal validity not allow us conclude personality does make person more risk addiction

Question 17

Risk factor 4: family influences

Answer 17

. family members can have effect on person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours over course of development

Question 18

Family influences: perceived parental approval

Answer 18

. creates vulnerability to addiction
. adolescent believes if parent shows positive attitudes
. towards particular addictive substance/behaviour
. will be more vulnerable to develop addiction themself

Question 19

Research into family influences: Livingstone et al

Answer 19

. found final year high school students
. who were allowed by parents to drink alcohol at home
. significantly more likely to drink excessively at uni

Question 20

Family influences: little interest in monitoring

Answer 20

. adolescents who believe parents have little interest in monitoring their behaviour
. significantly more likely to develop addiction

Question 21

Family influences: exposure

Answer 21

. exposure in family life to substance/behaviour
. creates risk of developing addiction
. SLT could play a role
. person observe family member (role model) engaging in addictive behaviour
. will imitate behaviour as identify with them/want to be like them

Question 22

AO3 for family influences as a risk factor in addiction: RTS by Madras et al

Question 23

Risk factor 5: peers

Answer 23

. peers can influence person’s development during adolescence
. as spend more time with them/less with family
. peers act as gateways to addictive behaviour

Question 24

Research into peers: O’Connell et al

Answer 24

. suggests adolescents risk of developing alcohol addiction due to influence of peers because:

• attitudes/norms to drinking alcohol: at risk person attitudes/norms to drinking be influence by associating with peers who drink (NSI/ISI)
• opportunity to drink alcohol: experienced peers provide more opportunity for at risk person to drink
• individual’s perception: person may overestimate how much peers drink so drink more to keep up with them

Question 25

AO3 for peers as a risk factor in addiction: correlational

Answer 25

P - research peers as risk factor addiction often based correlational research where cause and effect not be established
E - research shown link between risk factors (peers) and addiction - often not show which came first
E - e.g. could be addiction causes person seek out peers who share same addictive behaviours (drugs) rather than peers and norms making engage in addictive beh
L - so research lacks internal validity not allow us conclude peers does make person more risk addiction

Question 26

OVERALL AO3 for risk factor in development of addiction

Answer 26

P - … as risk factor in development of addiction led to practical applications
E - cause principle that … makes person more risk of addiction used for prevention strategies for addictive behaviours
E - for example … TAILOR TO AO1
L - so awareness of risk factors in development of addiction important part of applied psychology

Question 27

Tailoring practical applications PEEL

Answer 27

. genetics - identifying those with genetic vulnerability may indicate who at risk of addiction be used develop individualised intervention programmes
. peers - social norms marketing advertising uses mass media to advertise how much young ppl drink so is not seen as norm
. stress - intervention help ppl manage/cope with stress
. personality - identifying those with APD may indicate who at risk of addiction be used develop individualised intervention programmes
. family - greater levels parental monitoring reduce likelihood of addiction

Question 28

Practical applications: think further

Answer 28

. positive implications for economy
. alcohol misuse costs economy £21.5 bn/year
. successful prevention and treatment programmes help ppl stop addictive behaviour
. so reduces negative impact of addiction on economy

Question 29

Alternative explanation PEEL

Answer 29

P - an alternative explanation is …
E - this suggests …
E - rather than …
L - therefore … cannot be the sole explanation for the development of addiction