Characteristics Of Addicitive Behaviour

Question 1

Salience

Answer 1

• refers to when the activity becomes the most important activity and dominates the addicts life and their way of thinking, feelings and behaviour
• e.g if I wasn’t actually gambling I was spending the rest of my time working out schemas to obtain money for my habit

Question 2

Mood modification

Answer 2

• refers to the person justifying their addictions because of engaging in the addictive behaviour. The persons addiction has the capacity to make difference in mood at different times.
• For example, a smoker may use nicotine for a boost first thing in the morning but then for relaxation in the evening.

Question 3

Tolerance

Answer 3

• refers to the process where the addict’s tolerance to the activity increases and therefore increase their addictive behaviour to achieve former effects.
• example, Griffiths (1993) found that ‘regular gamblers’ heart rates decreased faster than non-regular gamblers, implying they needed to restart gambling more quickly to achieve the same level of arousal.

Question 4

Withdrawal

Answer 4

• refers to the unpleasant feelings/states and physical effects that occur when the activity is discontinued or suddenly reduced.
• e.g insomnia, nausea, irritability or moodiness

Question 5

Conflict

Answer 5

• refers to the conflict between the addict and those around them such as friends or family (interpersonal conflict) by prioritising their engagement in their addictive behaviour.
• addict could have conflict within themselves (intrapsychic conflict).
• e.g. they want to cut down but struggle to do so

Question 6

Relapse

Answer 6

• refers to the tendency for return to the addictive behaviour even after years of not engaging.
• seen in the case of chemical addictions such as smokers restarting after a long period of quitting.

Question 7

DSM- V

Answer 7

• includes gambling disorders in a new category of behavioural addictions, recognising that it is like substance use disorders in many ways.

Question 8

Addiction intro

Question 9

Addiction according to the NHS

Answer 9

• According to the NHS addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it can be harmful.