Psychological models of addiction Flashcards
What are some of the features of addiction
Salience
Mood modification
Tolerance
Withdrawal
Conflict
Relapse
What is salience
The persistent feeling of “wanting” which can persists with the absence of “liking”
What is mood modification
The subjective experiences that result from engaging in the activity (i.e. using a substance), which may be reported as a “rush” or “escaping”, can be seen as a coping strategy
What is tolerance
More substance is required for the same effect over time, and this increases the risk taking involved to achieve it same effect
What is withdrawal
unpleasant emotional and physical effects when one does not use
How does conflict occur in addiction
within interpersonal relationships, within the self (intrapsychic) and feelings of loss of control (feeling unable to stop despite consequences)
What is relapse
repeatedly returning to previous behaviours of using in excess
What is addiction
Addiction is a physical and psychological dependence on something , associated with withdrawal symptoms upon cessation, craving and continued use despite adverse consequences
What are the 4 phases of addiction
- Initiation
- Maintenance
- Cessation
- Relapse
What are some of the main models of addiction?
Moral model
Disease model
Personality model
Psychodynamic theory
Medical model
Cognitive theory
Behavioural model
Biopsychosocial model**
Morel model:
Originating in the 17th century, this model states that the primary causal factor of addiction is individual weakness, with the person choosing to behave excessively (Sinfully) and so deserve to be punished
This punishment was down to the church and the criminal justice system
It is from this model that a lot of modern ideas and stigma about addiction occur
Disease model:
Originating in the 19th century, this model states that individuals passively succumb to powerful substances, and so are victims to a ‘disease’
It was seen that the victims of addiction had predisposing personalities that made them weak and so it was only through banning substances such as alcohol that they could be stopped
This encouraged the temperance movement (Promotion of abstinence)
The AA and NA largely subscribe to this model
What model do the AA and NA largely subscribe to
Disease model “Addiction is my disease”
Personality model:
Originating in the late 1950’s, this model states that the primary causal factor is the individual and their abnormal personality traits
These traits included:
- Poor impulse control
- Low self-esteem
- Inability to cope with stress
- Egocentricity
- Manipulative traits
- Need for power and control
Psychodynamic theory:
These theories suggest an underlying psychopathology pre-existing the addiction, with individuals therefore being unable to effectively manage emotions and cognitions
Self-regulation is the ability to understand and manage your behaviour and your reactions to feelings and things happening around you
The psychodynamic approach to adduction looks at how past events, thoughts and circumstances shape a persons present behaviour
Medical model:
These models, originating in the 20th century, states that as only a minority of people become addicted, then the individual must be a problem
There is emphasis on genetic and physiological processes in determining addiction, therefore primary causal factor is the individual and tries to identify unique biological conditions which contribute to addiction (E.g. disorder of brain function)
It also states that there is a biological characteristic that distinguishes those people that drink unproblematically and socially, from those that drink hazardously, abusively and ultimately chemically dependent
It considers the pharmacology of the substance.
Agent of change is medical establishment as can use expert knowledge to look at interaction between the individual and the substance
Effects locus of control for patients – locus of control becomes external as can’t help being “abnormal”.
Total abstinence is the cure.
Cognitive theory
cognitive theory states that addiction recruits and influences cognitive processes such as attention bias and memory bias
People with addiction may pay greater attention to addiction related cues and may lack cognitive control in relation to it
For example, the smell of cigarette smoke or seeing a cigarette on TV may cause an unconscious, cognitive desire to smoke
What are the 2 main filter systems of cognitive processing?
- Controlled, explicit thinking
- Automatic, implicit thinking
Describe controlled, explicit thinking
Controlled thinking is slow, deliberate, effortful and sequential (E.g. learning to drive)
Describe automatic, implicit thinking
Automatic thinking is fast, unintentional and requires no effort (E.g. driving after a number of years)
How is addiction described in terms of cognition in cognitive theory
When learning a new behaviour, controlled thinking is required, however, over time, this becomes stored in memory and cues can then allow it to be automatically controlled
Drugs and alcohol dependancy are an example of this learned behaviour, with cues leading to automatic thinking and cognition causing the addictive behaviour
What is the behavioural model of addiction
Addictive behaviours are learned through interactions with external and internal worlds
Addiction is considered a behavioural disorder in which drugs and alcohol function as reinforcers of behaviour
Addiction is a result of well rehearsed, over-learned repertoires of behaviours
What is conditioning?
Conditioning is the process of behaviour modification, in which an individual comes to associated a desired behaviour with a previous, unrelated stimulus
What are the 3 main forms of behavioural conditioning?
- Operant
- Classical
- Modelling/Observational
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning is when humans or animals learn to associate certain behaviours with receiving rewards or punishment
Describe Skinner’s experiments in operant conditioning on rats
- If the light was green and the rat pressed the lever, it would receive food → Positive reinforcement
- If the light was red and the rat pressed the lever, it would get an electric shock → Positive punishment
What is positive reinforcement?
Addition of a pleasant stimulus
E.g. Press button on green -> Get a treat
What is negative reinforcement?
Removal of an unpleasant stimulus
E.g. Press button on green -> Hunger goes away
What is positive punishment?
Addition of an unpleasant stimulus
E.g. Press button on red -> Electric shock
What is negative punishment?
Removal of a positive stimulus
E.g. Press button on red -> Snack is removed
What is an example of positive reinforcement in addiction
Alcohol is drank -> Relaxation
What is an example of negative reinforcement in addiction?
Alcohol is drank -> Removal of anxiety and stress
What is an example of positive punishment in addiction?
Alcohol is drank -> Conflict with friends and family
What is an example of negative punishment in addiction?
Alcohol is drank -> Job and home taken away
What is classical conditioning?
This is a type of learning which involves associating one neutral stimulus with a natural response
Describe Pavlov’s investigations of classical conditioning on dogs
A bell was rang every time food was given to the dogs
The dogs then learned to associate the bell with food and salivated whenever the bell was rang, even without seeing the food
How does classical conditioning occur in addiction?
Whenever someone drinks alcohol with friends, they feel happy
They learn to associate alcohol with happiness (Not the friends), and may even cut out the friends and skip straight to drinking
What is modelling/observational conditioning?
Learning occurs through observation and imitation of others
This is influences by factors such as attention, motivation, attitudes and emotions
Actions that are seen to be rewarded are more likely to be imitated
What is the main addiction model currently used in psychiatry?
Biopsychosocial model
What is the biopsychosocial model of addiction?
This model suggests that addiction is caused by the overlap of psychological, biological and social factors
What are some psychological factors of addiction?
- Learning (Conditioning)
- Self-view
- Beliefs
- Coping skills
- Cognitions
- Cognitive functioning
What are some biological factors of addiction?
- Family history and genetics
- Changes to the brain
- Biological reactions
- Health
- Medication
What are some social factors of addiction?
- ACEs
- Culture
- Relationships (Including lack thereof)
- Traumatic experiences
- Stigma
- Past and current environment
- Criminal justice
- Boredom
