According to the biological model, each person’s unique physiology and genetics causes addiction. People differ in the degree to which they like or dislike a particular addictive substance or activity. Some people may enjoy a substance or activity so much that it becomes very tempting and difficult to resist.
Table of Contents
What are the biological reasons for addiction?
- Genetics. You may have heard that drug and alcohol addiction can run in families.
- Developmental stage.
- Sensitivity to drugs.
- Mental illness.
- Gender.
- Ethnicity.
What are the theories of drug abuse?
The CAP theory of drug abuse emphasizes the interaction of cognitive-affective-pharmacogenic effects of drug taking. The belief that one is powerless to affect the environment and cope with stress plays a central role in the theory.
How does conflict theory explain drug abuse?
Conflict theory holds that there are higher numbers of chronic drug abusers found in lower social classes, disorganized neighborhoods, low-income families, and relatively politically powerless places. That there are plenty of all four of these in the U.S. is attributable to recent complex, nationwide trends.
What is the biological theory?
Biological Theory is devoted to theoretical advances in the fields of evolution and cognition with an emphasis on the conceptual integration afforded by evolutionary and developmental approaches.
How does biological psychology explain behavior?
The biological approach believes behavior to be as a consequence of our genetics and physiology. It is the only approach in psychology that examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a biological and thus physical point of view. Therefore, all that is psychological is first physiological.
What are the factors that influence drug abuse?
- Family history of addiction. Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves genetic predisposition.
- Mental health disorder.
- Peer pressure.
- Lack of family involvement.
- Early use.
- Taking a highly addictive drug.
What are the psychological causes of drug abuse?
Several psychosocial factors have been associated with substance abuse. Particularly, peer pressure, media portrayal of substance-use by celebrities,[6] lucrative advertisements, attractive packaging and expectations of joy are commonly associated with harmful use of substances by the young.
What are three theories of drug addiction?
The theories addressed here include: Negative Reinforcement-NR (“Pain Avoidance”) Positive Reinforcement-PR (“Pleasure Seeking”) Incentive Salience-IS (“Craving”)
What are the three main psychological theories of addiction?
This paper treats addiction as a problem of motivation, and reviews three main approaches to understanding motivation as applied to addiction: decision-theory, drive theory and behaviourism.
What are the four theories of addiction?
There are a variety of psychological approaches to the explanation of drug dependence, including emphasis on learning and conditioning (behavioural models), cognitive theories, pre-existing behavioural tendencies (personality theories), and models of rational choice.
What are the most important sociological theories of drug abuse?
Sociological theories of substance use and abuse are then examined with a particular focus on learning and subcultural learning theories, social bonding theory, interactional theory, age-graded theory, and perspectives addressing the importance of economic and emotional strain and social conflict perspectives.
How does the conflict theory view drug use as a social problem?
In regards to substance use and abuse, conflict theorists see drug use happening as a response to inequality, especially inequality perpetuated by the capitalist system (Understanding Social Problems).
What theory explains drug trafficking?
Current Theories Explaining Drug Trafficking Previous theoretical explanations of illicit drug trafficking have labeled social disorganization theory and structural disadvantage as primary explanations for involvement in illicit drug activity.
What is an example of a biological theory?
One example of a biological theory is the germ theory of disease. the germ theory of disease posits that certain microbes can make us ill if we are exposed to a certain amount of them and that some illnesses caused by certain microorganisms can be spread person-to-person.
How does biological theory explain criminal behavior?
Lombroso’s (1876) theory of criminology suggests that criminality is inherited and that someone “born criminal”‘ could be identified by the way they look. He suggested that there was distinct biological class of people that were prone to criminality. These people exhibited ‘atavistic’ (i.e. primitive) features.
Why is biological theory important?
By looking at the biological bases of human behavior, psychologists are better able to understand how the brain and physiological processes might influence the way people think, act, and feel.
What is the main focus of biological psychology?
Biological psychology is concerned primarily with the relationship between psychological processes and the underlying physiological events—or, in other words, the mind-body phenomenon.
What are the four biological explanations of behavior?
Surname 1 Name Instructor Course Date The four biological explanations of behavior include physiological, evolutionary, ontogenetic and functional. In terms of physiological, behavior is described as an activity of the brain.
How does the biological area explain behaviour?
The biological area focuses on genetic, neurochemical and how the brain and nervous system work as explanations of behaviour and assumes the following: All that is psychological is first physiological: The mind resides in the brain and so all thoughts, feelings and behaviours have a biological cause.
What is the difference between drug abuse and drug use?
The key difference between a person who misuses drugs and a person who abuses drugs is their intent. The former takes a drug to treat a specific ailment, whereas the latter uses a drug to elicit certain feelings.
How much influence does addiction have on a person’s biology?
Scientists estimate that genes, including the effects environmental factors have on a person’s gene expression, called epigenetics, account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person’s risk of addiction. Also, teens and people with mental disorders are at greater risk of drug use and addiction than others.
What are four social factors that contribute to substance abuse?
Social factors that contribute to increased risk for adolescent substance use include deviant peer relationships, popularity, bullying, and association with gangs. Social influences and familial influences are often present simultaneously.
How does psychology explain addiction?
Psychology Today makes it quite simple: When individuals engage in an activity that is pleasurable but cannot stop doing it, even to the detriment of everyday living (such as work, hobbies, family time, finances, etc.), and health and wellbeing suffer as a result, this behavior would be considered an addiction.
How do psychologists define addiction?
Addiction is a state of psychological or physical dependence (or both) on the use of alcohol or other drugs. The term is often used as an equivalent term for substance dependence and sometimes applied to behavioral disorders, such as sexual, internet, and gambling addictions. Adapted from APA Dictionary of Psychology.