This chapter examines the role that choice has in addictive behaviours. Assuming that as human beings we always have a certain choice concerning our behaviours, this should also be present when it comes to addiction. There are multiple theories looking at the role of choice and what affects humans ability to make such as choice.
One's ability to exert self-control is such a factor that affects choice. The energy model of self-regulation claims that one's ability to self-regulate is a form of energy that can be depleted. When the energy is temporarily lost, through the use of it on some other activity that required self-control, it becomes more difficult to exert self-regulation on a subsequent activity. Another study looked at blood glucose levels and self-control. According to their …show more content…
This theory looks at addiction as damaging areas in the brain that are responsible for inhibition. Therefore, behaviours that are reinforced by the reward pathways such as taking drugs can not be overridden by the inhibitory parts of the brain, hence allowing the addictive behaviour to continue (Moss & Dyer, 2010). This seems to make a lot of inherent sense since our behaviour is regulated by our brain. If a important part of our brain that regulates self-control and inhibition gets damaged or loses some of its abilities, it would make sense that we would participate in reward-oriented, impulsive action like taking drugs or other addictive behaviours, that provide immediate benefits.
In conclusion, while choice might play a role to some extent in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviours, other factors influence how much choice a person really has over their behaviours. Both factors that influence self-control and personality can influence the actual amount of choice a person has. Further other theories examine what influences people's behaviour or their sense of choice when it comes to regulating
One's ability to exert self-control is such a factor that affects choice. The energy model of self-regulation claims that one's ability to self-regulate is a form of energy that can be depleted. When the energy is temporarily lost, through the use of it on some other activity that required self-control, it becomes more difficult to exert self-regulation on a subsequent activity. Another study looked at blood glucose levels and self-control. According to their …show more content…
This theory looks at addiction as damaging areas in the brain that are responsible for inhibition. Therefore, behaviours that are reinforced by the reward pathways such as taking drugs can not be overridden by the inhibitory parts of the brain, hence allowing the addictive behaviour to continue (Moss & Dyer, 2010). This seems to make a lot of inherent sense since our behaviour is regulated by our brain. If a important part of our brain that regulates self-control and inhibition gets damaged or loses some of its abilities, it would make sense that we would participate in reward-oriented, impulsive action like taking drugs or other addictive behaviours, that provide immediate benefits.
In conclusion, while choice might play a role to some extent in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviours, other factors influence how much choice a person really has over their behaviours. Both factors that influence self-control and personality can influence the actual amount of choice a person has. Further other theories examine what influences people's behaviour or their sense of choice when it comes to regulating