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Addictive behaviour (Characteristics of addiction (Mark Griffiths created…
Addictive behaviour
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Biological explanations
Dopamine
Describe (10 marks)
- Argues that it hijacks the brain via the release of Da through the mesolimbic pathway (MLP). This explanation views AB as a 'disease of the brain'.
- Suggests AB trigger surge of Da from the VTA, which is received by receptors in the nucleus accumbens (NA) which leads to the sense of pleasure. = person INITIATES AB
- Research has shown that repeatedly carrying out AB leads to a decrease in D2 receptors and decrease in Da= tolerance. If they stop they will experience withdrawal symptoms.= person MAINTAINS AB
- Nora Volkow argues there are more complex brain processes involved in CREATING the actual addiction.
- Da is also sent to other areas of the brain and as AB escalates so does the involvement in those areas.
- AB changes brain circuits in the prefrontal cortex which decides what to pay attention to. This causes the brain to place more importance on the AB and cues associated with it.
- Another area is the dorsal striatum. Da stimulates neurons which help form habits of identifying enjoyable patterns.
- Amygdala creates the 'good memories' of the AB
Evaluation (10 marks)
P: :check: useful applications
EV: Champix= drug help to quit smoking. Works by binding to the nicotine receptors tricking the brain into thinking it had nicotine leading to a release of a small amount of Da, this stops cravings. Won't feel pleasure by smoking as Champix has blocked receptors.
EX: Supports Da explanation and gives validity to the theory that Da is involved with addictions such as smoking.
P: :green_cross: can't explain all addictions.
EV: Stokes found no sig. increase in Da levels in volunteers taking cannabis
Yoder found no consistent increase in Da across ppts who were given alcohol.
EX: Da= inadequate explanation of AB and at best can explain some addictions but not all.
P: :green_cross: highly reductionist
EV: reduces complex behavior such as A down to the role of Da and reward pathways and processes.
EX: Weakness as it ignores important influences on AB e.g social factors, personality and cognitions which have a body of research to support them. More appropriate explanation = diathesis-stress model which suggests individuals have a biological pre-disposition to AB but only results in addiction of there is an environmental trigger e.g trauma.
P: :check: compelling evidence.
EV: Da agonists are used to treat Parkinson's by copying the effects of Da in the brain. 1 in 7 patients taking these drugs have experienced side effects such as impulse control leading to compulsive gambling, sex and shopping.
EX: Therefore this clearly demonstrates there is a link between Da and AB.
Applying one biological explanation to modifying AB (5 marks)
- A bio explanation would argue that AB is due to the release of Da along the MLP. This leads to a sense of pleasure therefore person repeatedly engages in AB to gain sense of pleasure. To modify this Champix has been used.
- Champix= binds to nicotine receptors tricking the brain into thinking it has had nicotine leading to small release of Da which stops cravings. If individual does smoke, they wont feel pleasure as receptors are blocked.
Genes
Describe (5 marks)
- Da receptor gene has been implicated in AB. Some individuals have a variant of this gene: D2A1 gene which has been suggested as a cause of AB.
- D2A1 gene results in person having fewer D2 receptors in the NA. This means that this person feels very little pleasure from normal activities and so overcompensates by engaging in AB to overstimulate the receptors they have.
- Comings et al found that 48.7% smokers carried D2A1 gene compared to 25.9% non-smokers.
50% gamblers had the gene compared to 25.9% non-gamblers.
-Carol Lerman compared the DNA of non-smokers and chronic smokers and found that non-smokers were more likely to have the SLC6A3-9 gene. Having this gene was found to: reduce the risk of becoming a smoker, if they did smoke it started later than age 16, if they did smoke it made it easier to quit.
- This gene reduces Da transmission therefore smoking does not give such a 'buzz'
Evaluate (5 marks)
P: :check: high scientific validity
EV: As they are based on objective, measurable, and well established scientific principles. For e.g gene mapping is used to identify specific genes such as the D2A1 gene.
EX: Therefore explanation is well respected by wider scientific community and general public.
P: :green_cross: highly deterministic
EV: as it implies that our genetic makeup e.g D2A1 gene determines our behaviour.
EX: Problematic as it ignores the role of FW which in turn removes personal responsibility and could mean that the addict might think that engaging in treatments is pointless as they believe it is not something they could control.
P: :check: supporting research evidence.
EV:Comings et al found that 48.7% smokers carried D2A1 gene compared to 25.9% non-smokers.
50% gamblers had the gene compared to 25.9% non-gamblers.
EX: This provides support to the role of genetic factors. However, the results do not show 100% have this gene.
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