Psya4 - A - Biological Approach To Initiation, Maintenance And Relapse In Addiction (Smoking And Gambling)

Front 1

Biological approach to intiation of addiction

Back 1

Genetic predisposition – various genes identified for different addictions. It is believed that some genes may make a person more or less sensitive to the effects of dopamine. Those who are less sensitive may seek out addictive substances/behaviours to compensate for low levels of dopamine (= pleasure), whereas those who are more sensitive do not seem to need the extra stimulation provided by addictions.

Front 2

Biological approach to maintenance of addiction

Back 2

Biochemical effects – the body becomes used to the physiological effects produced by the addiction (increased dopamine, rush of adrenaline) and tolerance may occur (the person needs more and more of the substance or behaviour to produce the same effects). The addiction is maintained to continue receiving the pleasurable feelings originally produced and avoid the negative effects of withdrawal.

Front 3

Biological approach to relapse of addiction

Back 3

Biochemical effects - relapse occurs as a response to physiological withdrawal due to the loss of increased levels of pleasure producing biochemicals such as dopamine. The individual returns to the addictive behaviour to avoid the unpleasantness of physical withdrawal.

Front 4

Biological approach - evaluative comments

Back 4

- Reductionist: reduces possibly complex addictions to too simple a level?
- Deterministic: claims people will have no free will over whether they become addicted.
+ Individual differences: can explain why some people develop addictions and others don’t in the same bad environments (genetic pre-disposition).
+/- Strong research support to suggest AB runs in families BUT this may also be explained by SLT- copying parents addictions
+/- Lots or research done on animals: can we generalise to humans? BUT, better as it is unethical to do this research on humans.
- Explains some addictions better than others- good for chemical addictions (e.g. smoking) but is less effective for explaining behavioural addictions such as gambling.

Front 5

Biological approach
Research for intitiation of smoking

Back 5

*Heritability estimates for smoking in twins range from 46 to 84%.
* Comings (1996) found that 49% of smokers and ex smokers carried the A1 variant of DRD2, compared to 26% of the general population.

Front 6

Biological approach
Research for maintenance of smoking

Back 6

*Shachter (1977) argued that smokers continue to smoke to maintain nicotine in their body at a level high enough to avoid any negative withdrawal symptoms. This is known as the Nicotine Regulation Model. Smokers who use low-nicotine cigarettes smoke 25% more cigarettes than those who smoked high-nicotine content cigarettes.
*Nicotine increases dopamine release, providing a positive, rewarding feeling which leads to maintenance of the addictive behaviour.

Front 7

Biological approach
Research for relapse in smoking

Back 7

Long-term use of nicotine leads to a high tolerance to it (meaning that the amount of nicotine needed increases). Stopping this use can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, so to avoid this, the addict relapses.

Front 8

Biological approach
Research for intitiation of gambling

Back 8

* Zuckerman (1979) proposed ‘sensation seeking’ personality type which may be passed on genetically. This predisposes people to seek out stimulating activities, such as gambling.
*Kim (1998) found gambling may activate the brain’s reward system, causing the release of chemicals (endorphins) which create a rush of pleasure.

Front 9

Biological approach
Research for maintenance of gambling

Back 9

Wray and Dickinson (1981) found that gambling addicts who are stopped from gambling experience symptoms almost like withdrawal symptoms from chemical addictions. So the individual continues to gamble to maintain the positive effects (the feelings of pleasure) and avoid the negative consequences of withdrawal.

Front 10

Biological approach
Research for relapse in gambling

Back 10

(Yes this is supposed to be the same as maintenance)
Wray and Dickinson (1981) found that gambling addicts who are stopped from gambling experience symptoms almost like withdrawal symptoms from chemical addictions. Gamblers experience similar withdrawal symptoms to addicts with substance addictions, so it is suggested that gamblers relapse in order to stop the withdrawal symptoms.