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Health Psychology- Unit 3 > B2- Physiological Addiction > Flashcards

B2- Physiological Addiction Flashcards

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1
Q

Physiological addiction

A

Each addiction consists of:
- initiation
- maintenance
- relapse

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2
Q

Initiation

A

why people begin an addiction

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3
Q

Maintenance

A

why people continue in their addiction

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4
Q

Relapse

A

why people go back to their addiction after trying to quit

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5
Q

Smoking
- Biological Approach

A

Initiation:
- genetic predisposition
- dopamine receptors

Maintenance + Relapse
- role of dopamine
- nicotine regulation
- withdrawal symptoms
- tolerance

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6
Q

Genetic Predisposition
(initiation)

A
  • genes may be a risk factor for nicotine addiction
  • genetic influences contribute to 50% of the risk of taking up smoking
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7
Q

Dopamine

A

Dopamine is the brains pleasure chemical and is associated with most addictive substances

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8
Q

Dopamine Receptors
(initiation)

A

Nicotine molecules attach to dopamine receptors which causes a release dopamine in the brain,
- the release of dopamine causes a buzz which gets smokers ‘hooked’

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9
Q

Role of Dopamine
(Maintenance + Relapse)

A

smoker continue to smoke because nicotine molecules continue to attach to receptors and release dopamine

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10
Q

Nicotine Regulation
(maintenance + relapse)

A

people continue to smoke to keep constant levels of nicotine in their blood
- this is so they can maintain the buzz feeling and to avoid withdrawal symptoms (negative reinforcement)

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11
Q

Withdrawal symptoms
(maintenance + relapse)

A

after finishing a cigarette, withdrawal symptoms will start to appear and the smoker will have another cigarette to avoid these symptoms

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12
Q

Tolerance
(maintenance + relapse)

A

constant stimulation reduces sensitivity of dopamine, so the smoker will smoke more to achieve the ‘buzz’ sensation they used to get.

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13
Q

Evaluation
- strength

A

Evidence for nicotine regulation theory
- a study gave smokers cigarettes containing lower amount of nicotine than usual, they respond by smoking more to make up for the nicotine deficit
- this shows regulation theory is valid as the findings match

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14
Q

Evaluation
- weakness

A

Evidence against nicotine regulation
- not everyone regulates their nicotine levels
- people who smoke 5 a day regularly show no withdrawal symptoms or addiction, they may have learned by observing others instead
- this suggests some people smoke for non-biological reasons

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15
Q

Smoking
- Learning approach

A

Initiation
- vicarious reinforcement
- positive reinforcement
Maintenance
- negative reinforcement
- classical conditioning
Relapse
- conditioned cues
- self- efficacy

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16
Q

Vicarious Reinforcement
(initiation)

A

a person observes a smoker gaining satisfaction + pleasure from smoking
- this makes it more likely they’ll begin smoking as they expect the same rewards

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17
Q

Positive Reinforcement
(initiation)

A

if the consequence of a behaviour is desirable, it will be repeated
Nicotine is a powerful reinforcer through physiological effects of dopamine reward
- enjoyable sensations reward smoking, so they’re likely to continue smoking

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18
Q

Negative Reinforcement
(maintenance)

A

a desirable consequence by the removal of something unpleasant
- impatient + anxious feelings
- withdrawal symptoms

They relieve these symptoms by smoking. This is negatively reinforcing because it stops unpleasant sensations

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19
Q

Classical Conditioning
(maintenance)

A

smoker learns to associate smoking sensations with pleasurable effects
- smells, taste of smoking

  • so these sensations become conditioned stimuli, which is capable of triggering a response without delivery of nicotine to the brain.
20
Q

Self- efficacy
(relapse)

A

a persons confidence in their ability to stop smoking
- someone with low self- efficacy may make less effort to quit expect relapse and fail to seek support

21
Q

Conditioned Cues

A
  • Primary reinforcers
  • Secondary reinforcers
22
Q

Primary reinforcers

A

pleasurable effects of smoking, dopamine reward act as reinforcer

23
Q

Secondary reinforcers

A

objects, people, places
- this causes an experience of pleasurable response they once got from cigarettes
- this then triggers a craving that is impossible to resist

24
Q

Evaluation
- strength

A

Support for the role of conditioned cues
- studies presented smokers and non smokers with images of smoke related cues. The smokers reacted strongly + reported high levels of cravings.
- These findings are consistent with predictions about conditioned cues showing nicotine addicts do respond to cues

25
Q

Evaluation
- another strength

A

Real life applications
- several treatment programmes such as aversion therapy
- electric shocking smokers whilst smoking can be effective to ensure it is negatively associated
- reduces NHS spending and improves quality of life

26
Q

Evaluation
- weakness

A

A limited explanation
- some people do not take up smoking even after observing
- only 50% get addicted
- other factors must be involved

27
Q

Alcohol
- Cognitive Approach

A

Initiation
- mitigation
- specificity
Maintenance
- assumptions
- stress relief
Relapse
- counterproductive
- increase of stress
- cycle of distress

28
Q

Mitigation for current issue
(initiation)

A

someone has childhood trauma =
may develop mental disorder =
experience emotional disorder =
relieve symptoms by drinking, to manage psychological pain, and become emotionally stable

29
Q

Specificity
(initiation)

A
  • the choice of drug is specific to your specific state
  • the choice is an outcome of experimenting of other drugs
    e.g. alcohol is often used by people with anxiety as it has relaxing effects
30
Q

Managing the problem
(maintenance)

A

Alcohol addicts use alcohol as a short- term soother to self medicate, as the effects are temporary, the user will continue to use as they feel they cant manage without

  • this is how the user progresses from use to addiction
31
Q

Stress Relief
(maintenance)

A

People with low self- esteem (from trauma) do not feel they can cope with stressful situations and turn to alcohol to relieve stress

32
Q

Counterproductive
(relapse)

A

using alcohol to self medicate doesn’t work as it makes you feel more distressed that you’re dependent on alcohol, causing relapse from the stress.

33
Q

Increase of stress
(relapse)

A

when an addict reduces use of alcohol, they will experience withdrawal symptoms which creates stress
- as the user is unable to cope with stress, they feel the only way to solve the situation is to drink = cycle of distress

34
Q

Evaluation
- strength

A

Trauma in childhood
- evidence to support, study showed people with a high ACE score were more likely to become addicts
- this shows childhood trauma is linked to addiction in adulthood

35
Q

Evaluation
- weakness

A

Cause + effect
- evidence shows underlying mental disorders do not cause addiction, but the opposite
- study showed addiction to alcohol causes depression
- addiction isn’t caused by underlying disorders that cause self-medication

36
Q

Alcohol
- Learning approach

A

Initiation
- positive reinforcement
- vicarious reinforcement
- negative reinforcement
Maintenance
- positive reinforcement
- negative reinforcement
Relapse
- negative reinforcement

37
Q

Positive reinforcement
(initiation)

A
  • alcohol attaches to dopamine receptors causing a release of dopamine in the brain
  • alcohol addicts continue drinking for the buzz they receive from dopamine
  • rewards from drinking, chanting, praise from friends
  • these rewards positively reinforce drinking alcohol
38
Q

Vicarious Reinforcement
(initiation)

A

a young person observes family and peers enjoying alcohol and want to imitate for those rewards also

39
Q

Negative Reinforcement
(Initiation)

A

People drink to escape stress in their lives
- people can learn this from watching films

40
Q

Positive Reinforcement
(maintenance)

A

motivational toxicity = rewards from drinking exceed rewarding activities in normal life
such as relationships + hobbies

  • drinking eventually becomes alcoholics only source of reward
41
Q

Negative Reinforcement
(maintenance)

A

drinking is maintained to avoid withdrawal symptoms which are unpleasant
- strengthens drinking behaviour

42
Q

Negative Reinforcement
(relapse)

A
  • the relief gained from drinking can be strong enough to provoke relapse
  • drinking makes life worse so they drink more to avoid the stress
43
Q

Evaluation
- strength

A

Research support for negative reinforcement
- drinking to relieve symptoms of withdrawal is controlled by brain
- makes drinker vulnerable + relapse more likely
- negative reinforcement is responsible for maintenance and relapse

44
Q

Evaluation
- weakness

A

Narrow explanation
- operant conditioning cannot explain use vs abuse
- most try alcohol in their life so everyone should be addicted from rewards
- genes are more influential

45
Q

Smoking addiction

A
  • Biological Approach
  • Learning Approach
46
Q

Alcohol addiction

A
  • Learning approach
  • Cognitive approach

Health Psychology- Unit 3 (9 decks)

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