Risk factors in the development of addiction

Question 1

State the five factors that affect the development of addiction

Answer 1

1. Genetic vulnerability
2. Stress
3. Personality
4. Family influences
5. Peers

Question 2

Risk factors

Answer 2

Any internal or external influence that increases the likelihood a person will start using addictive substances or engage in addictive behaviours

Question 3

Genetic vulnerability

Answer 3

Any inherited predisposition that increases the risk of a disorder or condition

There are two possible direct mechanisms that can explain genetic vulnerability as a risk factor:

1. D2 receptor - Dopamine transmission is influenced by the number of dopamine receptors, with low inherited numbers leading to addictive behaviour.
2. Nicotine enzyme - Certain substances can lead to addiction, as some individuals lack the fully functioning enzyme (CY2A6) for nicotine metabolism (break down), resulting in significantly less smoking. This is due to genetic factors determining the expression of the CYP2A6 enzyme.

Question 4

Stress

Answer 4

People who are under a lot of stress are more prone to addiction.

They might turn to substances or behaviour that give them temporary relief as a coping mechanism

Stress may stem from social environments like family and living conditions, with more drug addiction in cities than rural areas, possibly due to the availability of drugs in urban areas.

Question 5

Stress: Research (2)

Answer 5

Anderson and Teicher highlight the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in later addiction. Early severe stress can damage a young brain’s sensitive development, creating vulnerability to later stress. Further stressful experiences in adolescence and adulthood can trigger this vulnerability, increasing the likelihood of self-medicating with drugs or other behavioural addictions.

Driessen et al say that 30% of drug addicts and 15% of alcoholics also suffer from PTSD

Question 6

Personality
- Robins

Answer 6

There is no such thing as an addictive personality. But addiction is often linked to a disordered personality, and individuals with antisocial personality disorder (APD) often also exhibit substance abuse.

Robins - APD is a casual risk factor for addiction due to its impulsive nature, potential criminal behaviour, and breaking of social norms. It is likely that individuals with APD will try drugs at a young age, as it offers a combination of norm breaking, criminal activity, and personal desires.

Question 7

Personality: Eysenck + some evaluation

Answer 7

Eysenck - addictive personalities are formed through the interaction of 3 personality dimensions….

1. Extraversion-introversion - extroverts are chronically under stimulated and bored. They seek stimuli to increase cortical brain activity
2. Neuroticism - Neurotics commonly experience negative affect (emotions) such as depression and anxiety
3. Psychoticism - Psychotics, while often demonstrating hostile behaviour, also are impulsive and react with little consideration for consequences

The evidence for an addictive personality is not clear and definable, but it seems that certain general traits, such as impulsivity, make addiction formation more likely.

Question 8

Personality: Belin/Weintraub

Answer 8

Belin - when providing rats with a button that administered cocaine, one group of rats showed they were sensation seekers, and immediately took large doses. The other group were identified as impulsive and took smaller doses, but were more likely to form addictions.

Weintraub - When Parkinson’s sufferers were given L-dopa, which is a drug that increases their levels of Dopamine, they showed a 3.5 times increase in impulse control disorders such as gambling and sex addiction

Question 9

Family influences
- Livingston

Answer 9

Adolescents start using alcohol in families where it is an everyday feature

Livingston et al found children allowed to drink alcohol at home in their final school year were more likely to drink excessively when they believe their parents have no interest in monitoring their behaviour.

The key determinant here is the adolescent’s perception which is more important than whether or not parents really monitor the adolescent’s behaviour

Question 10

Peers

Answer 10

Peer pressure is a great factor in the formation and severity of many addictions, and addictions can have a direct impact on who you select for your friendship

Question 11

Peers: O’Connell

Answer 11

Suggested that are three major elements to peer influence as a risk factor for alcohol addiction:
1. Attitudes about drinking are influenced by associating with peers who use alcohol
2. These experienced peers provide more opportunities to use alcohol
3. Individuals overestimate how much their peers are drinking and attempt to keep up with the perceived norms

Question 12

Other possible behavioural peer influences
- Social identity theory
- Social learning theory

Answer 12

Social identity theory - Abrams and Hogg
People categorise themselves into different social categories to build their own social identify

Social learning theory - Bandura
It suggests that people cognitively process info and internalise responses based on observations, even when they do not experience them first hand and adapt them to their own contexts