Psychological definitions of stress and addiction

Biomedical model

A perspective that explains illness solely in terms of biological factors. Symptoms are physical and come from things like genes, bacteria, viruses. There is also an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment.

Bio psychosocial model

a model of health that integrates the effects of biological, behavioral, and social factors on health and illness. Also considers lifestyle.

Health as a Continuum

a type of scale from very good health to very poor health. health is not "either/or", but many possible states, a combination of different factors on the scale influence where an individual is on the scale

Addiction

A physiological or behavioural dependence on a drug, such as nicotine or alcohol. Or a psychological dependence on a behaviour, such as working or gambling.

Behavioural addiction

A psychological compulsion to engage in behaviour that is maladaptive and persistent despite the negative consequences.

Physiological addiction

An addiction in which an individual is addicted to a substance on which his body has grown dependent and will experience physical symptoms from using or withdrawing from a substance.

classical conditioning - behavioural addiction

Exposure to an environmental stimulus can become associated with substance use, the environment can stimulate cravings.

operant conditioning - behavioural addiction

Suggests that addiction is positively reinforced by acceptance in social situations where others use the same substance.

social learning theory - behavioural addiction

Suggests that observing role models who receive positive reinforcements for their behaviour influences addiction in others.

Addictive substances - physiological addiction

Substances alter brain chemistry, either by imitating the brains own chemical messages or by interfering with the brains reward pathway.

biological predisposition - physiological addiction

Explains addiction through inheritance of genes, which can make some people more vulnerable to addiction.

Characteristics of behavioural addiction

People with shopping or gambling addictions commonly experience:
• issues with impulse control
• denial of addiction
• feeling sad or depressed when engaging in the behaviour or shortly after
• a need to conceal the behaviour

Characteristics of physiological addiction

People who use drugs like nicotine and alcohol may experience:
• cravings
• physical withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating, and psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, if they don't take the drug
• tolerance - a need to take more and more of the drug to get the same effect.

psychological dependence

a psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions. It also dominated the majority of the addicts thoughts and may neglect other aspects of the roe life, like work.

physical dependence

The chemical influences physiology, such as the dopamine reward system, and the addicts body adapts to the drug.

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect.

withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug.

relapse

A return to the use of a drug after attempting to stop.

interpersonal conflict

Conflict between the addict and those around them.

Interapsychic conflicts

Conflict within the individual, if they understand the consequences of their addictive behaviour but feel unable to stop.

Mood alteration

Experiences that the individual may report when engaging in the addictive activity. For example playing online games increases arousal, which may be addictive.

Stress

the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging.

stress characteristics

• occurs when presented with a demanding set of circumstances
• experienced differently as everyone has a different level of ability to cope
• can be positive if it drives someone towards a goal, or negative if it causes psychological or physical distress

Stressors

specific events or chronic pressures that place demands on a person or threaten the person's well-being

Psychological impacts of stress

Occurs when and individual can no longer cope with the stressors. Effects can be:
• cognitive (thinking), such as worrying, restlessness, negatively or shame.
• emotional, such as moodiness, sadness or anger.
• perceptual (attitude), such as despair at feeling unable to cope.

Shot term impacts of stress

• increase heart rate
• increased blood pressure
• increased or erratic breathing rate

Long term impacts of stress

• suppression of the immune system
• diabetes's
• digestive problems
• sleeplessness
• heart disease
• high blood pressure