Psychology B2 - physiological addiction

Question 1

initiation: positive reinforcement

Answer 1

-direct or indirect
-alcohol activated dopamine reward system (brain)
-alcohol molecules attach to receptors on neurons in VENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA
-dopamine released from nucleus accumbens and in frontal brain
-sense of pleasure, positive reinforcement - receive rewards, becoming social

Question 2

initiation: negative reinforcement

Answer 2

-initiation through negative reinforcement
-escape stressful lives
-learnt from films, characters drink to avoid pain/stress
-strong motivator

Question 3

maintenance: positive reinforcement

Answer 3

-provides ongoing rewards
-motivational toxicity
-rewards for drinking exceed other rewarding activities (relationships, hobbies)
-becomes central in lives
-become alcoholics, only source of reward

Question 4

maintenance: negative reinforcement

Answer 4

-maintained to avoid withdrawal symptoms
-when they cease drinking, experience unpleasant symptoms
-physiological = sweating, trembling etc.
-psychological = craving, anxiety etc.
-drinking again gives relief

Question 5

relapse: negative reinforcement

Answer 5

-learning processes can cause relapse
-withdrawal = unpleasant, prevent someone from ceasing drinking
-abstaining = relief from drinking, strong enough to relapse
-drinking = attractive escape from reality
-makes problems worse
-avoid stress

Question 6

research support for negative reinforcement
(evaluation)
+

Answer 6

-evidence for negative reinforcement and relapse
-Koob (2009), drinking to relieve withdrawal, controlled by brain structure - amygdala
-hyperactive during withdrawal, activates HPA
-makes ex-drinker vulnerable to stressors - relapse = likely
-relapsing calms severe stress response
-research suggests negative reinforcement = responsible

Question 7

mixed evidence for dopamine
(evaluation)
-

Answer 7

-dopamine isn’t critical to effects of alcohol
-Koob (1992), destroying nucleus accumbens of rat eliminates dopamine, isn’t necessary to motivate
-Mitchell et al. (2012), drinking is associated with endorphins
-dopamine isn’t key, endorphins play important role

Question 8

narrow explanation
(evaluation)
-

Answer 8

-operant conditioning cannot explain transition from use to abuse
-people try alcohol
-many enjoy it on a regular basis
-few become dependent
-hard to explain effects of alcohol = positive or negatively reinforcing or based on biological reward system
-other factors are crucial in alcohol addiction