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There are various approaches to addiction I will be comparing the behaviourist and psychodynamic approaches to see which provides the most compelling explanation of addiction. The behaviourist approach states change in behaviour happens due to past experiences and our actions are a result of the environment. (Glassman and Hadad, 2013). The environment in which we exist makes us act in a certain way for example, seeing people around us do acts like smoking and gambling may make an individual want to participate in those acts (Gross,2015). The psychodynamic approach on the other hand claims behaviour is determined by the unconscious mind and our actions have a motive behind them, which reflect our early childhood experiences (Gross, 2015).
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.
Before giving a broad overview on the definition of the Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model of Addiction, it must be understood that there is no simple unified theory of addiction that is universally accepted in the health world. This makes the definition of the BPS Model of Addiction not just a simple, one to two sentence definition of what this is, but rather a description of the components within the BPS model of addiction. In a broad sense, this model takes the stand that biological, psychological, and social aspects all contribute to the understanding of addiction. In short, the BPS model of addiction is an attempt to further explain addiction – how it occurs, and how it is maintained. Below is an image (Basic Representation of the BPS Model, 2017) representing this model
Addiction /ə-ˈdik-shən, a-/ noun 1. A strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble), 2. An unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (Addiction). Addiction can cause a person to sabotage their lives in order to get their next fix, whether that be scoring another gram of coke or a double with cheese, a large fry, and a large soda. Addicts are stuck in a constant cycle of getting cravings, going through with their ritual, using, experiencing guilt, and being emotionally triggered, thus bringing them back to the beginning. Now, most people when they hear the word “addiction”, the first thing that comes to their mind is drugs. However, if a vast majority of individuals
Addiction is something that may seem inevitable but at the end it’s entirely the fault of a person who is addicted. In the article by Charles Duhigg ‘the power of habit’ Angie Bachmann got addicted to gambling, it was because of her fault as she kept accepting the offers from cassino and many other reasons.. Both knew what they were doing but still Angie let herself get into the situation, and the casino encouraged it. She was a well settled housewife, when everybody used to leave the house she was all alone. One fine day, while passing through the street she took a visit to casino just for a change.
Drug Addiction as a Psychobiological Process The emphasis is on biological mechanisms underlying addiction, although some other factors influencing drug addiction will also be discussed. The presentation is limited primarily to psychomotor stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine) and opiates (e.g., heroin, morphine) for two reasons. First, considerable knowledge has been gained during the past 15 years regarding the neurobiological mechanisms mediating their addictive properties. Second, these two pharmacological classes represent the best examples of potent addictive drugs, and the elucidation of their addiction potential can provide a framework for understanding abuse and addiction to other psychotropic agents. Some psychologists and sociologists assert that animal studies do not model the important psychological variables governing drug addiction.
People argue whether drug addiction is a disease or a choice. Today, I will be discussing this argument in hopes to have a better understanding as to why this topic is so controversial. Throughout my research, I easily found information on this topic and I am still not sure I have found any answers.
How do you know when you are addicted to something? Is it a choice or just an effect? What most people do not understand, is that no one really chooses to be an addict. Being addicted to something such as drugs, alcohol, food, etc., is not due to someone waking up one day and saying 'hey, I would really enjoy not being able to cope without a substance.' It is mostly due to deeper issues like depression or influences, things of that nature, which lead someone on the path for their search of an escape. More times than not, that escape is found in drugs or alcohol. These substances allow a false reality to take place. They alter a persons mind, and let them believe, for that five minutes or hour, that their problems are nonexistent. That "feel good" high makes a person want more and they, in turn, become addicted to this substance because it is the only thing that makes them feel good. What is the root of this effect, though? It can differ from anything from having a loved one die, to just feeling left out in a group. In my situation, however, it all started out with a silly girl. Drug abuse can result from three basic things: depression, influences, and being unaware.
Addiction, like other diseases, has the tendency to be genetic. “Addictive drugs induce adaptive changes in gene expression in the brain’s reward regions” (Bevilacqua and Goldman 359–361). The disease is also influenced by environmental conditions and behavior. Addiction genes can be passed down through family members of many generations. If one has addiction in their genes tries a drug and someone who does not have addiction in their genes and tries the same drug, it is more likely that the person with the gene will become addicted over the one without. Environmental conditions can also be a factor because someone’s lifestyle could contribute to addiction. Factors such as stress and peer pressure can influence drug or alcohol abuse. Behavior can also contribute to addiction because if a person’s attitude is obsessive and they have an addictive personality, they could become addicted to a substance. In “Addiction is Not a Disease” Daniel Akst explains actual diseases are Alzheimer’s and Schizophrenia, not addiction. For example, Akst mentions that “addicts tend to quit when the going gets hard” (Akst.) He also clarifies that addicts have the choice to have that extra drink or those extra pills every
Anyone can be addicted to something. Addiction is where someone takes a substance that can be pleasurable but leads to compulsion and interference of what the person’s ordinary life, relationships, and health. Once a person is addicted to something, there is no stopping it. There can be causes to how an addiction starts. Depression is a major cause of addiction. When someone suffers from depression, they are at their lowest part of their life. Like addiction, depression affects how people live their life. In “The Swimmer” by John Cheever, Neddy Merrill becomes addicted to alcohol. To be better in social standings than everyone else, his addiction causes him to lose all what is important to him.
Addiction is a very controversial topic. I support the argument that addiction is in fact a disease. Many believe that once you’re addicted it is just a matter of hard work and willpower to overcome it. On a chemical level certain drugs can block receptor sites for neurotransmitters, which will then prompt the brain to create more sites thinking that it needs to make more sites for more neurotransmitters. This will leave a persons brain with too many open unnecessary receptor sites. Also some drugs can mimic certain neurotransmitters and fit into a receptor site and this is how your brain would make a person seem like they cannot live without that substance. Eventually after consistent use of an addicting substance a person’s body will ultimately end up gaining dependence on the abused substance. In the case of alcohol, scientific research shows that a certain signaling pathway in the human brain can be connected with alcohol dependence. A gene, called neurofibromatosis type 1, controls this specific pathway. Furthermore, neurofibromatosis controls gamma-amino butyric acid, a chemical in the brain that heightens feelings of relaxation and lowers anxiety. Scientists have found that this gene is associated with excessive drinking in mice. The central amygdala is significant in the decision making process, and also with addiction-related processes. This is where gamma-amino butyric is released in the central nervous system and has shown a significant change from recreational drinking to alcohol dependence. In experiments, it shows that mice with functional neurofibromatosis genes steadily increased ethanol intake. Being that alcohol has a plethora of negatives on the human body and brain this shows that the addiction to alco...
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.
Addiction is a very strong word that brings along many negative connotations. When we think of an addiction we imagine someone who depends on a certain substance, most likely alcohol to have their needs met. Addiction is defined by the Webster dictionary as, "a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal." Even though our society sees addiction and only applies the word to drug addicts and alcoholics, there is a much wider range of subjects that fall under the umbrella of what an addiction truly is. An addiction is a dependency on any kind of materialistic object that you use on a day to day basis that brings
Addiction is something that is hard to stop even though it is interfering with your life. People always be addicted to some activities or some substances; such as, gambling or drugs. There are many causes of addiction; however, the mainly causes of addiction are the place that people live are surrounded by addictions, people‘s thinking react to addictions, and the chemicals’ level that brain releases.
Humans are environmentally and genetically predisposed to developing motivated addictive behavior. Addiction is a brain disease and a behavior disorder. All behaviors are choices. Choices that adolescences make at a young age directly affect the outcomes of their futures. Many factors contribute to an adolescence, becoming an addict or exhibiting drug seeking behavior.
Addiction is a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal (Merriam-Webster). In the solid facts report it states, “individuals turn to alcohol, drugs and tobacco and suffer from their use, but use is influenced by the wider social setting.” Alcohol dependence, illicit drug use and cigarette smoking are all closely associated with markers of social and economic disadvantages (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Addiction is caused by repeated use of addictive substance and how the brain expe...