Vunerability/Risk Factors Flashcards
Sussman and Ames
make distinction between extrapersonal and intrapersonal factors affecting vulnerability
what is extrapersonal
factors OUTSIDE of individual and include environment influences eg family
what is intrapersonal
internal factors/characteristics of the person eg individual differences
intrapersonal factors
- genetics
- personality
extrapersonal factors
- peers
- stress
- family
How is genetics and risk factor for addiction?
- genetic vunerability: when genes are not inevitable cause of addiction but once exposed it explains why sm becomes dependent
- genetic predisposition: leaves you genetically vulnerable
Research support for genetics risk factor
KENDLER:
- twin studies show heritability component on addiction
- Swedish twins for alcohol addiction (9000 twins) collected over 40 years.
- heritability stayed the same
- adoption studies- genetic component as 1 parent with addiction meant significant greater risk to develop addiction
Evaluation of genetic factor
Reductionist biologically:
- ignores higher level of explanation like poverty/ role of family
- there could be other factors impacting addiction eg peers
- better to look at it holistically
How is personality a risk factor for addiction?
- personality= patterns of thinking, feeling, behaviour differing between individuals
- Eyesenck’s Type theory- high levels of neuroticism (characterised by anxiety + irritability) predisposed to addiction
Research support for personality risk factor
Cloninger Tri dimensional theory of addictive behaviour
- this contradicts Eyesneck as it suggests 3 traits make individual liable to substance abuse
1. Novelty seeking common in extroverts
2. Harm avoidance
3. Reward dependence
Evaluation of personality as a risk factor for addiction
Methodological issues
- use of questionnaires
- self report methods are subjective, answers can be socially desirable, will not admit as shame
- lowers validity, unrepresentative sample
How is family a risk factor for addiction?
2 ways family influence addictive behaviour
- social learning: learn behav by observe role models, sees model rewarded= vicarious reinforcement increasing likelihood of desire to try substance
- expectancies: associations make from observing environment around us
research support for family?
LIVINGSTONE
- parental approval is reliable risk factor
- final year HS students allowed to drink at home were more likely to drink excessively at college due to normalisation and approval
evaluation of family research support?
reductionist!
- environmentally reductionist
- ignores bio aspects like biochemistry + genetics, only focuses on parental approval
- cannot understand addiction completely
- better to look at it hollistically
how are peers a risk factor for addiction?
- peer= someone who shares our interests, similar age, status
- Mary O Connell-> 3 risk factors
1. adolescents attitude to drinking influenced by peers use alcohol
2. experienced peers provided opportunities for ‘at risk’ person
3. at risk person overestimate how much peers drinking so drink more to keep up
research support for peers?
LESHNER
- any treatment for addiction must include social context elements eg peer groups
- successful= recovered addicts may relapse when leaving clinic due to og social context still in place
evaluation for peers research support?
REDUCTIONIST
- environmentally reductionist
- only focuses on social groups ie if friends are addicts
- neglects other factors like biology (neurochemistry)
- therefore limits understanding of addiction
how is stress a risk factor for addiction?
- stress= physiological + psychological state of arousal arises when believe dont have ability to cope with threat
- eg stressor that could lead to addiction is childhood rape correlated with adult alcohol addiction
what research support is there for stress?
PIAZZA
- rats in high state stress (tail pinch) much more likely ingest self adminstered amphetamines as stress increases
evaluation of stress research support?
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES
- study with rats
- extrapolation is impossible as humans more cognitively complex
- makes any reswarch validity questionable- can we apply?
