B2- Physiological Addiction

Question 1

Physiological addiction

Answer 1

Each addiction consists of:
- initiation
- maintenance
- relapse

Question 2

Initiation

Answer 2

why people begin an addiction

Question 3

Maintenance

Answer 3

why people continue in their addiction

Question 4

Relapse

Answer 4

why people go back to their addiction after trying to quit

Question 5

Smoking
- Biological Approach

Answer 5

Initiation:
- genetic predisposition
- dopamine receptors

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

Question 6

Genetic Predisposition
(initiation)

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Dopamine

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Dopamine Receptors
(initiation)

Answer 8

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’

Question 9

Role of Dopamine
(Maintenance + Relapse)

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Nicotine Regulation
(maintenance + relapse)

Answer 10

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)

Question 11

Withdrawal symptoms
(maintenance + relapse)

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Tolerance
(maintenance + relapse)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Evaluation
- strength

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Evaluation
- weakness

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Smoking
- Learning approach

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Vicarious Reinforcement
(initiation)

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Positive Reinforcement
(initiation)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Negative Reinforcement
(maintenance)

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Classical Conditioning
(maintenance)

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Self- efficacy
(relapse)

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Conditioned Cues

Answer 21

• Primary reinforcers
• Secondary reinforcers

Question 22

Primary reinforcers

Answer 22

pleasurable effects of smoking, dopamine reward act as reinforcer

Question 23

Secondary reinforcers

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Evaluation
- strength

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Evaluation - another strength

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Evaluation - weakness

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Alcohol - Cognitive Approach

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Mitigation for current issue (initiation)

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Specificity (initiation)

Answer 29

- 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

Question 30

Managing the problem (maintenance)

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Stress Relief (maintenance)

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Counterproductive (relapse)

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Increase of stress (relapse)

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Evaluation - strength

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Evaluation - weakness

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Alcohol - Learning approach

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Positive reinforcement (initiation)

Answer 37

- 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

Question 38

Vicarious Reinforcement (initiation)

Answer 38

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

Question 39

Negative Reinforcement (Initiation)

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Positive Reinforcement (maintenance)

Answer 40

motivational toxicity = rewards from drinking exceed rewarding activities in normal life such as relationships + hobbies - drinking eventually becomes alcoholics only source of reward

Question 41

Negative Reinforcement (maintenance)

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Negative Reinforcement (relapse)

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Evaluation - strength

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Evaluation - weakness

Answer 44

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

Question 45

Smoking addiction

Answer 45

- Biological Approach - Learning Approach

Question 46

Alcohol addiction

Answer 46

- Learning approach - Cognitive approach