Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
RISK FACTORS - STRESS AND PERSONALITY - Coggle Diagram
RISK FACTORS - STRESS AND PERSONALITY
Stress
self medication model
the drug may not actually alleviate the symptoms, it is simply perceived to do so
Gelkopf et al 2002 - argues that individuals intentionally use drugs treat and relieve certain psychological symptoms
addiction is a coping mechanism : turning to behaviours and drugs provide a temporary relief from stress
paradox of smoking
each cigarette has an acute effect on stress because it relives the withdrawal symptoms, thus temporarily relieving stress an maintaining the behaviour, but the effects of nicotine soon wear off and stress levels rise again as cravings set in
evaluation
cause and effect issue
high stress levels may be linked to the likelihood of becoming addicted, but they could equally be a by product of being addicted
addiction may prompt high levels of stress due to the problems it causes eg. the personal (relationships with friends and family) and financial costs
personality
Krueger 1998 - sensation seeking and impulsivity are commonly associated with addiction
impulsivity: behaving without thinking and without considering the risk involved in the behaviour
personality characteristics do appear to play an important role in predicting patterns of substance abuse and development of addiction
sensation seeking: the tendency to seek varied, novel, complex and intense sensations and experiences and the willingness to take risks for the sake of such experiences
eysenck 1997
argued those with high levels of neuroticism and psychoticism were predisposed to addictions
neuroticism: characterised by high levels of anxiety and irritability. individuals seek relief from behaviours and drugs that they perceive as reducing their anxiety
proposed addiction occurs because of personality type and needs of the personality.
psychoticism: characterised by aggressiveness and emotional detachment. drugs helps escape these negative emotional states
evaluation
weaknesses
certain traits does not automatically mean that addiction will occur, it is merely a predisposition. may be other factors involved in the development addiction
cause and effect is difficult to establish
research support
key predictor in the initiation of substance use, the development of substance abuse and the maintenance of substance dependence
evidence suggest that certain personality traits are implicated in the development of addiction