Cognitive commentary for explanations of addiction - Self medication

Question 1

Describe research supporting self medication.

Answer 1

A meta analysis tested the central feature of self medication - substance abuse association with the failure of controlling your ego. This represents the control of impulses to self medicate through drugs and alcohol.
Participants with substance abuse showed significant failures in ego control compared to non alcoholics.

Question 2

Describe the problems surrounding cause and effect.

Answer 2

Self medication suggests that psychological distress must precede drug abuse. Self medication cannot explain many cases of addiction where there are no major psychological problems to overcome

Question 3

Describe research supporting the cause and effect.

Answer 3

Evidence of sexually abused women were more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs to remove sexual inhibitions than non abused women. This suggests that psychological distress or trauma is the main cause behind the decision to initiate drug taking.