The biological approach to gambling and smoking

Question 1

Gambling:

Initiation- the role of genetics

Answer 1

Studies have shown that gambling runs in the family and can account for why some people start gambling. Research has found that first degree relatives of pathological gamblers were more likely to suffer from pathological gambling demonstrating a strong genetic link.

Question 2

Gambling:

Initiation evaluation-genetics can explain individual differences

Answer 2

Can explain why some individuals develop pathological gambling where others dont. Some people are more vulnerable to an addiction rather than others because of their genetic predisposition.

Question 3

Gambling:

Initiation evaluation- however genes ignores environmental influences

Answer 3

By using just the genetics, it ignores external factors such as accessibility to gambling and incentives to gamble. It is more likely gambling is a product of biological and external factors.

Question 4

Gambling:
Maintenance-Why do pathological gamblers gamble more than recreational-study
pituitary-adrenal response

Answer 4

pathological gamblers are associated with an under active pituitary-adrenal response. When measuring gambler’s cortisol levels before and after a video of their preferred gambling ways, the pathological gamblers had less cortisol in their saliva meaning they have an under active pituitary-adrenal response so they have to gamble more to get the same cortisol levels.

Question 5

Gambling:

Maintenance is split into 2 sections

Answer 5

Pituitary adrenal response

sensation seeking

Question 6

Gambling:

what are the 5 evaluation points for the biological approach of gambling

Answer 6

Reductionist
Explains individual differences
ignore environmental
there are limitations
sensation seeking and type of gambling linked

Question 7

Gambling:
maintenance
sensation seeking

Answer 7

there are individual differences in the need for optimal amounts of stimulation. Sensation seekers look for varied or novel experiences and have a lower appreciation of risk and anticipate arousal as more positive. Fewer D2 receptors

Question 8

Gambling:
maintenance
evaluation
Sensation seeking and types of gambling linked

Answer 8

There are 2 subgroups of gamblers. One is made of those who play active games for arousal-fewer D2 receptors.
Those who play ‘passive games’ and who gamble to avoid unpleasant emotional states.

Question 9

Gambling:
Relapse
Boredom avoidance personality

Answer 9

the pathological gambler is seen as a person who needs this intense stimulation and excitement. Poor tolerance for boredom may contribute to repetitive gambling behaviour. path. gamblers had higher boredom proneness scores than non pathological gamblers

Question 10

Gambling:
relapse
evaluation-what are the 2 evaluation points?

Answer 10

reductionist

limitations

Question 11

Gambling:
maintenance
evaluation-what is the evaluation?

Answer 11

Sensation seeking and type of gambling linked

Question 12

Gambling:
Relapse
Reductionist

Answer 12

They reduce the complex phenomenon into a simple level of explanation ignoring other potential influences e.g. behavioural influences.

Question 13

Gambling:
relapse
limitations-why is one thing addictive?

Answer 13

cannot explain why some types of gambling is addictive. men and women who got hooked on video gambling became addicted in a year, those who bet on horses can take up to 3 years to get addicted.

Question 14

Smoking:
initiation
The role of genetics

Answer 14

it has been estimated the heritability of smoking is between 40-80%. Individual differences in smoking initiation were explained by both genetic and environmental influences.

Question 15

Smoking:
initiation
genetics-what is a limitation of this?

Answer 15

why dont all people whose parents smoke, smoke? could we have a genetic predisposition that becomes triggered.

Question 16

Smoking:
maintenance:
what are the 2 sections of maintenance?

Answer 16

the effects of nicotine

pre-natal exposure to nicotine.

Question 17

Smoking:
maintenance: the effects of nicotine

Answer 17

Nicotine dependence was primarily influenced by genetic factors, initiation may be more influenced by genetics but the continuation is linked more strongly to individual differences in nicotine metabolism. Nicotine activates receptors in the brain which leads to the release of dopamine. As time goes on nicotine levels drop and can be increased by taking another cigarette.

Question 18

Smoking:

maintenance-there is supporting research for this by an Icelandic study

Answer 18

Researchers have identified a specific gene variant that influenced the number of cigarettes smoked per day, nicotine dependence and the risk of developing smoking related diseases. Those who smoked less than 10 a day were less likely to have this variant. Genetic factors may not determine smoking initiation but makes it more likely someone will become dependent.

Question 19

Smoking:

maintenance- link between smoking in pregnancy and later addiction

Answer 19

women who smoked heavily during pregnancy doubled the risk of their child becoming addicted to tobacco if they did begin smoking. This is because of the chromosome that has a gene variant that is likely to be passed on which is caused by nicotine.

Question 20

Smoking:

relapse- how do genetics influence relapse?

Answer 20

54% of the risk for quit failure could be attributed to heritability. Research has also attempted to identify the specific gene clusters associated with quit success and with nicotine dependence with the aim of matching specific treatments with those who are more likely to benefit from them.

Question 21

Smoking:
relapse
what are the 2 evaluation points for relapse?

Answer 21

implications for treatment

quitting may be down to genetics.

Question 22

Smoking:
relapse
evaluation
implications for treatment

Answer 22

Screening people to identify those who carry the genes that increase their susceptibility to specific addictions can be advised to change their behaviour or seek treatment to reduce their chances of developing those diseases. However, it is expensive to do so and it is unlikely to be successful given the small associations made between specific genes and addictions

Question 23

Smoking:
relapse
evaluation
quitting may be down to genetics

Answer 23

the effectiveness for smoking cessation may be moderated by a persons genetic make up. Those with a variant of a gene were twice as likely to quit smoking with a nicotine replacement therapy. Genetic testing may allow therapist to chose the most appropriate form of treatment to allow them to quit.

Question 24

General

Initiation-family and twin studies

Answer 24

Genes contribute to the development of alcohol dependence with heritability estimations of between 50% and 60%.
Genes do too with drug use estimating between 45%-80%
A significant proportion of the genetic influence on alcohol and drug dependence manifests itself in a general predisposition which may lead to dependence on addiction but may lead to antisocial behaviour too.

Question 25

General
Maintenance
How can you link in the maintenance off the general with the maintenance off addiction in offspring with those with smoking mothers/

Answer 25

A variant of a gene has been found in 2/3 of deceased alcoholics and 1/5 of non-alcoholics. There has been an increase prevalence of this variant among children born to alcoholics reflecting the intra-family risk. Those with this variant appear to have fewer dopamine receptors and hence addiction occurs to try and compensate for this deficiency by stimulating the receptors that they do have. The addiction is hence maintained.

Question 26

General
The disease model- the role of dopamine
Initiation-reward system

Answer 26

Addictive drugs stimulate a reward system in the brain that triggers the release of dopamine telling the brain to ‘do it again.’ The system creates lasting memories that link the drug to a pleasurable reward

Question 27

General
The disease model-the role of dopamine
evaluation
what is the support between sex addiction and dopamine

Answer 27

A young adult who was addicted to pornography was given a drug which blocked the release of dopamine. By blocking the reward, it extinguished the addictive power of that behaviour. Supporting dopamine’s role.

Question 28

General
the disease model-the role of dopamine
maintenance-avoid unpleasurable state

Answer 28

Chronic exposure to an addictive substance results in a reduction in the activity of these positive reward systems. People then suffer from withdrawal symptoms and hence no longer use the drug to obtain the pleasurable experience but instead to avoid an unpleasurable state.As a result, drug levels needed o trigger the dopamine increase.

Question 29

General
maintenance
evaluation
link between smoking and offspring an a gene

Answer 29

these is research supporting the claim that the gene was important in the influence of addictive behaviour. However, recent research has found no relationship/weak relationship.

Question 30

General
the disease model- the role of dopamine
relapse- cues of dopamine all around.

Answer 30

brain is still receiving difficult to resist signals of imminent reward which force the addict to take the drug again. Permanent recovery is made difficult because of the lasting memories of the drug. Cues predict the dopamine will be released and a reward will occur and so their capacity for self control is weakened causing relapse

Question 31

What is an addiction?

Answer 31

a mental disorder whereby the individual loses their control over a particular behaviour.