Risk factors Genetics, stress and personality

Question 1

What are genetics?

Answer 1

refers to inherited characteristics that are passed from generations

Question 2

Name TWO AO1 points for genetics

Answer 2

Noble et al 1993 argued that some people are more likely to develop addiction because of their genetic vulnerability. For example, the A1 variant of the dopamine receptor gene has been found to be linked with cocaine dependence.
Genetic explanation is reductionist

Question 3

What does genetics state about addiction

Answer 3

Some people may be born with low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine and a decreased ability to activate dopamine receptors in the brain

Question 4

what is stress?

Answer 4

a state of physiological arousal produced by demands from the environment

Question 5

What kind of stress
(Traumatic)

Answer 5

PTSD
Robins et al 1974 interviewed US soldiers after the Vietnam war and they found that they had either used opium or heroin during their tour duty with about 20% reporting that they developed physical or psychological dependence for heroin at some point during Vietnam

Question 6

what is personality?

Answer 6

Refers to the stable traits that make up a person.

Question 7

Name TWO AO3 points in relation to personality

Answer 7

• Kruger et al in 1998 identified a number of personality traits (e.g sensation seeking and impulsivity) that are commonly associated with addiction this is thought to have led to addiction such as alcohol, gambling and much more
• Labouvie and McGee found that adolescents who progressed to heavier alcohol abuse tended to score higher on scores of impulsivity. Blongien et al in 2011 went further and found that alcohol individuals who scored higher on impulsivity had a greater mortality risk than individuals scoring on low impulsivity.

Question 8

List further research on addiction and personality

Answer 8

Further research suggests that a relationship between addiction and personality disorders such as anti-social personality disorders and borderline personality disorder
Verrheul et al in 1995 found that overall the prevalence of personality disorders was estimated to be about 44% in alcoholics, 70% for cocaine addicts and 79% for opiate

Question 9

What is the self-medication model

Answer 9

Gelkopfe et al 2002 suggests that people use different forms of pathological behaviour to treat the psychological symptoms that they deal with

Question 10

Name another AO3 factor for genetics

Answer 10

Slutske et al 2010 interviewed 2,889 twins in Australia and found that MZ twins were more likely to be pathological gamblers if they other twin were as opposed to DZ twins. Male MZ twins had a heritability estimate of being a pathological gambler of 49% compared to 21% for DZ twins
Female MZ twins 55% as opposed to 21% for DZ twins