Addiction: Risk Factors in addiction - genetics/stress/personality/family/peers Flashcards
Which three AO3 points could be used for all of the risk factors?
Practical applications
Alternative explanations
Correlational
What is a risk factor in terms of addiction?
An internal or external factor that makes a person more vulnerable to addictive behaviour
What two ways could genetic influence vulnerability?
D2 receptors
Metabolism
D2 is linked to which neurotransmitter?
Dopamine
Genetics could have what effect on D2 receptors?
Fewer D2 receptors
What is the problem with having fewer D2 receptors
A person feels less pleasure from everyday activities so people need to turn to more addictive substances to feel the same effect
What is metabolism?
How fast the body can break down a substance
Some people are less likely to smoke nicotine because they lack a fully functioning enzyme, which enzyme is it?
CYP2A6
What did Kendler find about genetic vulnerability?
Those individuals with a biological parent with an addiction are more likely to have an addiction themselves, even though they were raised by adoptive parents.
How is stress linked to addiction?
When a person experiences stress they turn to addictive substances or behaviours as a form of self medication.
In terms of stress what has been linked to increased risk of developing an addiction?
Periods of chronic, long lasting stress
Traumatic childhood life events
What did Anderson and Teicher find out about the effect of stress on the young brain and its impact on addiction.
Stress can damage the young brain
The impact is later stress could trigger the vulnerability and lead to a person self medicating to cope.
What personality disorder is linked to addiction?
Anti-social personality disorder
Anti-social personality disorder includes which personality traits?
Neuroticism and Psychoticism
Neuroticism includes which personality traits?
High Anxiety
Irritability
Low self efficacy