ADDICTION 🚬

RISK FACTORS

PERSONALITY

Key traits may cause addictive behaviours.

Extraversion → extroverts are chronically under aroused so they may engage in addictive behaviours to get stimulation to raise arousal in the CNS

Neuroticism → neurotics often feel more anxiety so they may take substances to alleviate tension via self medication

Pyschoticism → take substances to manage their personality traits (selfish, detached from others, sensation seeking)

Novelty seeking → individuals high in novelty seeking, inhibited harm avoidance & reward dependence make those vulnerable to substance abuse

Impulsivity → more risk taking & chaotic lifestyle can lead to addictive behaviours

EVALUATION

(+) Evidence to support → kids with an internet addiction had a high score on neuroticism & psychoticism tests compared to other groups

(-) Issues with cause & effect → Teeson suggests that personality is correlational as these traits are common in addicts that didn’t have them before + personality is genetically based

(+) Evidence to support personality disorders & addicts → Verhheul reviewed research & estimated personality disorders were to be in 44% of alcoholics, 70% of coke addicts & 79% opiate addicts

(-) Alternate explanations for personality influences → antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) has been linked to addictive behaviour

STRESS

Using the tension-reduction hypothesis we can apply it to addictive behaviours. Childhood stress is also linked to addictive behaviours as early stress can affect brain development.

EVERYDAY STRESS

To relieve anxiety, individuals smoke, drink, etc as a means of coping with daily hassles like relationship problems, money worries & workplace stress. These stressors may contribute to the initiation & continuation of addiction as well as relapse after long periods of abstinence.

TRAUMATIC STRESS

Individuals exposed to severe stress are more vulnerable to addictions, especially children. PTSD is also linked to addiction, like Driessen et al found that 30% of drug addicts & alcoholics suffered PTSD.

EVALUATION

(+) Evidence to support → alcohol dependence is found 2x in those with a social phobia

(-) Individual differences aren’t taken into account → if someone has high hardiness (being in control, commitment & challenge), they have a strong defence to addiction → also have hardiness training

(+) Evidence to support → Tavolacci et al examined risk factors and found those who found uni stressful may develop addictive disorders

(-) Cause & effect issues with stress → does addiction lead to stress or does stress lead to addiction?

PEER GROUPS

Parents are the primary source of reinforcement from 0-12 years, and 12-14 years it becomes friends. Once an individual gets a romantic partner, they will then become the primary source of reinforcement.

EVALUATION

(+) Evidence to support →

(-)

(+)

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GENETIC INFLUENCES

EVALUATION

(+) Evidence to support →

(-)

(+)

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FAMILY INFLUENCES

EVALUATION

(+) Evidence to support →

(-)

(+)

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