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Essay on Psychological Causes Of Addiction
The evolutionary theory chapter 2 psychology
Essay on Psychological Causes Of Addiction
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Case Study Analysis
The APA refers to addiction is when a person at first starts to use something for pleasure as they enjoy it but then they start to use it or do it all the time which then interferes with their everyday life responsibilities. To analyse this case study the perspectives being used are social and evolutionary approach to psychology. The issue being analysed are the reasons why Chris may not be able to control himself and the reason why Jess might not want to help him.
Chris may have ended up being addicted because of several of factors, one may have been because of the pressure of society and the influence it has on people this could be. It could have also been the people that he’s interactive people or people that he knew before which influenced him into spending lots of money on material things. He may have then wanted to conform to fit into to the group and it could be a social norm towards them. His behaviour could be explained by the theory of planned behaviour/reasoned action. This was done by Ajzen and Fishbein (1980) who made this theory saying that this theory helps to predict if behaviour is being deliberate and planned or the behaviour is not intentional. Ajzen (1991) also said that the theory in order to change a person’s behaviour their behaviour needs to be altered to their intentions. Ajzen also said that something that a behaviour that may have happened in the past could contribute to what a person’s future behaviour might become. The beliefs that Chris have may be important as to predict their intentions just like its important in knowing a person’s attitudes.
Cognitive dissonance by (Festinger 1988) says that there are unwanted consequences which can indicate an event that blocks someone’s inte...
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... behaviour, the behaviour develops in an individual, how the behaviour arose through natural selection and how long the behaviour will survive. These levels can help understand why Chris may have developed this shopping addiction.
Evolutionary psychology uses evolutionary biology to help identify how the human mind works. This is helpful in understanding why Jess may be stuck on deciding what to do and also help explain that Chris’ started from past experiences.
To conclude when linked together the perspectives become more effective this is because evolutionary and social approach both help to explain the reason of addiction and helping/love. Evolutionary can be linked to the social approach because it says that everyone has to stick to a norm as they don’t want to be seen different which could explain the reason why Chris admits that he has a shopping addiction.
Many people dislike the term ‘addiction’ in relation to drugs or other substances, particularly as it infers that a person is powerless over their use of a particular drug or in some circumstances, a number of substances. Whilst others maintain it is this powerlessness that is the foundation of diagnosis and treatment – that treatment is not possible without recognition of addiction itself as the ‘problem’ being addressed. The professional and public perception of addiction is complicated. There are many approaches and models to explain addiction, the role of the addict, and their environment. This essay will compare and contrast two of these approaches, the medical/disease and the social model. Initially this essay will describe the origins of each model, and follow by explaining their respective strengths and weaknesses, and finish with an overview of the key differences between them. This essay will conclude by demonstrating that a holistic approach, and a cross-pollination of these models is the most successful approach to treating addicts. As is the case for all diseases, there are multiple treatment options, and as ever person is different, the results in each individual cannot be predicted.
In this paper I will be comparing and contrasting the Psychoanalytic formulations of addiction and the Cognitive models of addiction. According to Dennis L. Thombs, “people tend to get psychoanalysis and psychotherapy mixed up. Psychotherapy is a more general term describing professional services aimed at helping individuals or groups overcome emotional, behavioral or relationship problem” (119). According to Thombs and Osborn, “Cognitive refers to the covert mental process that are described by a number of diverse terms, including thinking, self-talk, internal dialogue, expectations , beliefs, schemas and so much more” (160). I believe these two factors play a major part in an individual’s life that has an addiction.
Sally Satel, author of “Addiction Doesn’t Discriminate? Wrong,” leads us down a harrowing path of the causes and effects that lead people to addiction. It can be a choice, possibly subconscious, or a condition that leads a person left fighting a lifelong battle they did not intend to sign up for. Mental and emotional health/conditions, personality traits, attitudes, values, behaviors, choices, and perceived rewards are just a few of the supposed causes of becoming an addict.
"NIH Study Finds Chronic Alcohol Use Shifts Brain's Control of Behavior." NIH News Release. 22 Aug. 2013: n.p. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
In the book, Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions, May explores how addiction develops and can be treated from a psychological, physiological, and spiritual standpoint. This theme is clearly shown throughout the text as it shows addiction from a whole person's perspective. The book covers the development of addiction from desire through the experience of addiction. The key focus is on looking at the matter of addiction from multiple stand points then broken down by explaining how addiction is an issue psychologically, physiologically, and spiritually. By focusing on these three areas, the author is able to present the reader with a clear understanding of addiction from all sides of the problem.
The biopsychosocial model proposes, and the scientific evidence has tended to confirm, that the interdependent factors ;biological, psychological and social all end up influencing each other and feeding into each other in an interdependent way and for these reasons, the biopsychosocial model has much to offer professionals working in treatment, prevention, and research in the addictions
Cooper, Joel. Cognitive Dissonance: Fifty Years of a Classic Theory. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2007. Print
Smith, S. & Stevens, R. (2002) Evolutionary Psychology, in Miell, D., Pheonix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology 1, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
A summary of the article “Addiction: Choice or Compulsion” will explain the theories and models of addictive behavior. The moral model shows addiction as a voluntary act, which the addict can control. The medical model portrays addiction as a disease and compulsive behavior that the addict has no control over. The introduction of the third model will suggest that it is neither compulsive nor voluntary (Henden, Melberg, & Rogeberg, 2013).
...criterion that true science is progressive. It has proven able to successfully account for apparent anomalies and generate novel predictions and explanations and therefore has the hallmarks of a currently progressive research program capable of providing us with new knowledge of how the mind works (Ketellar and Ellis 2000). A glance at the Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology (2005), edited by David Buss, shows just how vigorous and productive the field is. Important challenges remain in the discipline, however. The most important are determining the role of domain-specific versus domain-general processes and integrating evolutionary psychology with other behavioral sciences like genetics, neuroscience, and psychometrics (Buss 2004; Rice 2011). Even though critics will remain, Evolutionary Psychology will remain as a scientific discipline for the foreseeable future.
Main Point: What defines an addiction? According to Psychology Today, “Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance…. or engages in an activity….that can be pleasurable but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health.” This can range anywhere from drug use to eating disorders, to gambling, to even texting in today’s generation. Shocking to say the least, especially when most people do not even know they are addicted or are an addict until they realize this definition.
Mr. L is a 27-year-old Hispanic (of Puerto Rican descent) heterosexual male who stands 5 feet 10” tall, has a stocky build weighing approximately 220 lbs., he has a medium complexion, brown eyes, short cut dark hair, and short beard. Client is missing the first three teeth on upper left hand side of his mouth, which he occasionally shields with his hand while speaking. No other physical abnormalities noted. When asked Mr. L revealed that he didn’t believe in any specific religious sect or denomination, but does believe in the existence of a higher power ”God”, in particular Mr. L reported several times in his life where he felt his survival was based on “God looking out for him.” Currently Mr. L is in a relationship with his girlfriend of 11-years
There are many assumptions of why an individual may use different substances and perhaps go from a “social” user to becoming addicted. Understanding the different theories models of addiction many help in the process of treatment for the addict. Although people in general vary in their own ideologies of addiction when working as a clinician one must set aside their own person beliefs. Typically as a clinician it is best for the client to define how they view their addiction and their view may encompass more than one of the five theories. Some theories suggest genetic and other biological factors whiles others emphasize personality or social factors. In this study three theories are defined and given to three different people with different cultural backgrounds, different ideologies, different experiences, and most importantly different reference point of addiction.
This theory proves the similarity in bone structure, nervous system, and muscular makeup in humans and primates. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution ties in with the biological approach by explaining our physical makeup and how it has evolved throughout the years. Darwin’s theory argues that all living species are at their current biological form because of random inheritable changes. These changes are most likely to have been passed on to the next generation, which is called natural selection. Tanner (2008) states that “Psychologists are interested in what human traits make some people more successful than others. This is based largely on Darwin’s idea of natural selection where the strongest, adaptive, or creative species survive and others do not.” Furthermore, natural selection is a strong factor in deciding the biological aspects of personality. Sociobiology is an extremely important part of evolutionary study. Friedman & Schustack (2010) state that “Sociobiology is the study of the influence of evolutionary biology on an organism’s responses regarding social matters” (p. 139). Sociobiology includes a rewarding process in which an infant will do certain things to impress his or her mother and the mother will in turn reward the infant. The Cinderella Effect, where Cinderella was treated poorly by her stepmother, results from natural selection. This means that parents
...dynamic, behaviorist, cognitive, and evolutionary perspectives to determine the meaning behind observed behaviors in everyday life. Casual observations tend to be subjective.