Psychology B3 - non-substance related addiction

Question 1

self-medication

Answer 1

-example of cognitive approach
-some shop to self medicate and ‘fill the void’

Question 2

Madame Bovary Syndrome

Answer 2

-buy things you don’t need, buy them to fill empty hole, provides you with an escape
-Flaubert’s novel - lady who was bored and unfulfilled, wants luxuries, fills her life with shopping
-couldn’t afford it, debt accumulates
-purchases things to fill void

Question 3

initiation: excitement and relief from boredom

Answer 3

-everyone can window shop or browse online
-not always even a cost to shopping
-can buy things and return for free

Question 4

initiation: distress and lack of self-esteem

Answer 4

-shopping provides relief from emotional distress and low self-esteem
-associated with disorders such as depression

Question 5

initiation: emotional distress

Answer 5

-can start in childhood as a result of trauma
-often repressed and brought back to surface by stress of a major life event

Question 6

maintenance: reduce anxiety

Answer 6

-continue to shop to reduce anxiety
-compulsive shopping lead to financial problems
-shoppers suffer anxiety due to financial implications
-relieved by behaviours that disguise shoppers reality
-compulsive shoppers use shopping to self-medicate – leads to spending more money and greater anxiety

Question 7

maintenance: boredom and anxiety relief

Answer 7

-continuation of boredom/anxiety relief
-shopping = mood repair function (Elliott 1994)
-focus on nothing else when shopping - relieves anxiety, provides excitement – allows shoppers to forget problems
-destructive maintenance cycle - goes on for years

Question 8

relapse

Answer 8

effects of withdrawal -vulnerable to feelings of distress, boredom and loneliness
-anxiety = result of financial problems
-breakdown of coping strategies = shopping is a coping strategy
-cyclical process

Question 9

relapse: Khantizan

Answer 9

-addiction cycle = only be overcome by addressing underlying emotional distress (co-morbid mental disorder)
-could be achieved by therapy which helps shopper focus on areas of life where self-esteem could be boosted

Question 10

research support
(evaluation)
+

Answer 10

-support role of early trauma in shopping
-valence et al. compared family histories of compulsive/non-compulsive shoppers
-compulsive shoppers reported more experiences of childhood family dysfunctions
-Desarbo and Edwards, linked childhood abuse/neglect with emotional distress and compulsive shopping
-shopping self-medicates distress arising from childhood trauma

Question 11

link between compulsive shopping and mental disorders
(evaluation)
+

Answer 11

-Black (2007) compulsive shopping = co-morbid with disorders
-41%-80% have anxiety disorder
-21%-100% have mood disorder
-self-medication theory is right in claiming emotional distress arises out of mental disorders

Question 12

self-medication theory ignores or minimises role of non-cognitive factors
(evaluation)
-

Answer 12

-mental disorders could have biological basis (genetics)
-explain why some children grow up to develop depression and/or anxiety
-share common genetic roots with parents

Question 13

link between compulsive shopping and other factors is unclear
(evaluation)
-

Answer 13

-under researched area
-link between trauma, mental disorders, emotional distress and compulsive shopping/self-medication theory
-little evidence to confirm that mental disorders occur before compulsive shopping
-just as likely that compulsive shoppers become depressed and anxious
-more research = needed