The Biological Approach

Question 1

Initiation of Gambling + Smoking

Answer 1

The role of Genetics

Question 2

The role of genetics in initiation of Gambling

Answer 2

Studies show pathological gambling runs in families

Shah et al twin study: found evidence of genetic transmission of gambling in men

Black et al: 1st degree relatives of p gamblers = more likely to suffer than more distant relatives
Demonstrates strong genetic link

Question 3

2 maintenance theories for Gambling

Answer 3

Paris et al: Pituitary-adrenal response

Zuckerman: Sensation seeking

Question 4

Pituitary adrenal response

Answer 4

p gambling is associated with underactive pituitary-adrenal response to gambling stimuli

Question 5

Paris et al

Answer 5

Measured gamblers cortisol levels before + after watching gambling vid + vid of neutral stimuli.
Found recreational = increase salivary cortisol in response to both,

Pathological = no salivary cortisol increase in response to both

Question 6

Cortisol

Answer 6

The stress hormone associated with the pituitary-adrenal response

Question 7

Sensation-seeking

Answer 7

Claimed indi differences in need for optimal amounts of stimulation

Sensation seekers look for varied + novel experiences

High sensation seekers = lower appreciation of risk + anticipate arousal as more positive than do low sensation-seekers = more likely to gamble

Question 8

Relapse in Gambling

Answer 8

Boredom avoidance

P gambler seen as person who needs this intense stimulation + excitement

Research: p gamblers = higher boredom proneness scores than a control group of non-gamblers

Question 9

The role of genetics in Smoking initiation

Answer 9

Vink et al

Studied 1,572 Dutch twin pairs, found both m + f indi differences in smoking initiation = explained by genetic (44%) and environmental (56%) influences

Boardman et al: 348 identical twin pairs + 321 same-sex fraternal pairs = heritability for reg smoking = 42%

Question 10

2 maintenance theories for smoking

Answer 10

Effects of nicotine

Pre-natal exposure to nicotine

Question 11

Effects of nicotine

Answer 11

Vink et al:

Nicotine dependence was influenced primarily by genetic factors = 75%

Suggests although initiation of smoking might be influenced by environmental, reg tobacco use = link more to indi differences in nicotine metabolism

Nicotine affects brain: leads to release of dopamine = short feeling of pleasure which soon drops = smoke again = CYCLE

Question 12

Pre-natal exposure to nicotine

Answer 12

Mothers who smoked whilst pregnant = if children smoke = addicted

Question 13

Relapse in Smoking

Answer 13

Xian et al:

Twin study to test whether genetic risk factors contributed to failed attempts to quit smoking = 54% of the risk for failure could be attributed to heritability

Tried to indentify specific gene clusters associated with quit success + with nicotine dependence = aim of matching specific anti-smoking treatments with smokers most likely to benefit from them

Question 14

Reductionism

Answer 14

It reduces a complex phenomenon to a simple level of explanation

Reducing addiction to just action of genes or chemicals ignores all other potential influences e.g. social context

Question 15

Explaining indi differences

Answer 15

Explains why some people develop P Gambling yet others with the environmental experiences + life pressures do not

Some people are more vulnerable because of their genetic predisposition

Also explains why some are more resistant to treatment + why some are more likely to relapse = genetic vulnerability

Question 16

Limitation of Biological approach to Gambling

Answer 16

Ignores the importance of external factors in the development of gambling e.g. accessibility to opportunities + provision of alcohol whilst gambling

Question 17

Explanatory limitations of the biological approach

Answer 17

Cannot explain why some types of gambling are more addictive than others

M + W who got hooked on video gambling became compulsive gamblers in about 1 year

Where as betting tended to take about 3 1/2 years before at risk of developing compulsive gambling addiction

Question 18

Supporting research evidence for Smoking explanation

Answer 18

Identified a specific gene variant on chromosome 15 that influenced the number of cigs smoked per day, nicotine dependence + risk of developing smoking-related diseases

Smoked less than 10 a day = less likely to have this gene variant

Suggests genetic factors may not determine smoking initiation but make it more likely they will become dependent

Question 19

+ve of biological explanation for Smoking

Answer 19

By regarding smoking addiction as a biological problem = creates possibility that can be treated with drugs

Question 20

Implications for treatment for smoking

Answer 20

Genomic medicine = screening people to identify those who carry genes that increase susceptibility to specific diseases or addictions

Those found with higher genetic risk = advised to change behaviour or seek medial treatment to reduce chance of developing smoking related diseases

Question 21

Gartner et al

Answer 21

Screening for genetic susceptibility to smoking is unlikely to be successful, given small association between genes + smoking addiction