Theories

Question 1

Theories of Addiction

Answer 1

Physical-Dependence Theory
Positive-Incentive Theory
Disease Model
Incentive-Sensitization Theory

Question 2

Physical-Dependence Theory

Answer 2

drug addicts take drug to alleviate withdrawal symptoms

Question 3

Problems with Physical-Dependence Theory

Answer 3

• detoxified addicts return to drug-taking
• some highly addicting drugs (e.g. cocaine) have minimal withdrawal symptoms
• doesn’t explain how addiction process begins

Question 4

Positive Incentive Theory

Answer 4

the craving for the positive incentive properties of the drug is the primary factor in addiction

Question 5

Incentive

Answer 5

pleasure producing

Question 6

Problems with Positive Incentive Theory

Answer 6

• not all drugs are pleasure
• doesn’t explain how addiction begins
• doesn’t address individual differences
• the anticipated pleasure of drug taking is the basis of addiction not so much the pleasurable effects of drug
• drugs act as reinforcers

Question 7

reinforcers examples

Answer 7

smiles, money, drugs and alcohol, food

Question 8

Disease Model

Answer 8

• addiction is a disease

- research has identified genetic predispositions to alcohol dependence

Question 9

Strengths of the Disease Model

Answer 9

explains why not everyone develops a drug problem

-the usual rules that govern behavior will not apply in the disease state

Question 10

Problems with the Disease Model

Answer 10

• have not identified the disease
• how does a disease make us take drugs?
• lack of control

Question 11

example, lack of control

Answer 11

drug addicts will say they can’t do anything about drug intake because “I have a disease I can’t do anything about it”

Question 12

can theories interact?

Answer 12

not one alone explains drug addiction, they all interact to produce addiction
Theory 1 + Theory 2 + Theory 3

Question 13

Incentive-Sensitization Theory

Answer 13

attempts to explain drug craving

• stimuli that activate the mesolimbic dopamine system have incentive salience
• with repeated use a drug will acquire greater incentive value (sensitization)

Question 14

incentive salience

Answer 14

• the stimulus is attended to by the organism
• the stimulus motivates behavior towards it
• the organism “wants” the stimulus (anything that makes them feel good)

Question 15

neuronal evidence

Answer 15

chronic use of several drugs of abuse increase glutamatergic input onto dopamine neurons in the VTA
–also occurs with the stimuli associated with the drug abuse