Risk Factors In The Development Of Addiction Flashcards
What is a risk factor?
- anything int or ext that inc the likelihood of an indv starting to use drugs or engage in addictive bhv
- there are many risk factors such as genetic vulnerability, stress, personality, family influences and peers
Describe what is meant by genetic vulnerability as a risk factor of addiction
- indv has inherited predisposition that inc risk of addiction
- GV is explained as an interaction bw genes and env factors as an indv wont become addicted unless exposed to substance or opportunity
Explain a reason genetic vulnerability can occur
- GV can occur due to the number of D2 receptors indv has due to genetics
- D2 receptors are responsible for communicating w nts dopamine which is ass with pleasure
- having fewer D2 receptors is ass with addiction, as this leads to problems with experiencing pleasure from everyday activities e.g. chocolate
- so indv has more addictive substances like nicotine to experience feelings of pleasure they lack from
- therefore leading to addiction due to repeated use
What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate genetic vulnerability?
RTS by Kendler - adopted
Weakness - cannot establish cause and effect
Describe what is meant by stress as a risk factor of addiction
- indv experiences a state of arousal that occurs when they believe they dont have the ability to cope with the perceived threat
- ppl who experience stress may turn to addictive substances or bhvs as a form of self medication
- periods of constant stress and traumatic life events in childhood have been linked with inc risk of developing an addiction
What is the research into stress?
- Anderson and Teicher found that early experiences of severe stress have damaging effects on a young brain in a sensitive period of development and can create vulnerability to later stress
- further stressful experiences in later life could trigger the vulnerability and make it more likely that a person may self medicate with substances or behavioural addictions
What is the AO3 PEEL to evaluate stress?
Strength - cause and effect cannot be established
Weakness - cause and effect cannot be established
Describe what is meant by personality as a risk factor of addiction?
- there is no such thing as an addictive personality however certain traits have been linked to inc likelihood of addiction
- it is suggested that anti - social personality disorder leads to a high vulnerability to addiction
Explain the three personality innate dimensions associated with addiction in drug and alcohol abuse
- Clodinger proposed 3 innate dimensions ass with addiction in drug and alcohol abuse
- each dimension measured through a questionnaire
- novelty seeking is the tendency to get very excited in response to new stimuli, so continously seek new, more extreme experiences
- inhibited harm avoidance is the lack of inhibition, worry and fear
- inc reward dependency is the tendency to respond more to rewards e.g. social approval
What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate personality?
RTS by Schneider - novelty seeking
Weakness - cause and effect cannot be established
Describe what is meant by family influences as a risk factor of addiction?
- one fam inf is perceived parent approval, an adolescent will be more vulnerable to developing an addiction if they believe parents show pos attitudes towards a particular addictive substance bhv
- adolescents who believe that their parents have little interest in monitoring their bhv are sig more likely to develop addiction
- exposure to fam using substance/bhv creates risk of developing an addiction due to SLT playing a role, indv could obsv fam member engaging in add bhv and imitate this bhv as they identify and want to be like them
What is the research into family influences?
- Livingstone found that yr 11 students allowed to drink at home were sig more likely to drink excessively at college
What is the AO3 PEEL to evaluate family influences?
RTS by Madras - cannabis
Strength - prac apps
Describe what is meant by peers as a risk factor of addiction?
- peers can inf an indv development during adolescence as they spend more time with them rather than family
- some psychologists argue peers may act as gateways to addictive bhv
What are the three major elements peers provide to influence indv at risk for alcohol addiction?
- O’Connell suggested adolescents are at risk of developing an alcohol addiction due to inf of peers bc of three major elements
- an at risk indv attitudes and norms to drinking alcohol can be inf by ass with groups who drink alcohol
- experienced peers provide more opportunities for at risk indv to drink alcohol
- an indv perception may over estimate how much their peers drink and therefore drink more to keep up with them
