Psychology of Addictive Behaviour

Psychology of Addictive Behaviour

Unit Summary

The Cognitive Approach applied to Gambling and Smoking

Biological Approach applied to smoking and gambling

Models of addictive behaviour:

• Biological Approach
• Cognitive Approach
• Learning Approach

Gambling

Smoking

Diagnosis for pathological gambling focuses on three criteria:

• Individual presents a loss of control of gambling behaviour
• Progressive increase in gambling frequency and time thinking about gambling ect
• Continue to gamble despite negative effects it may have on their lives

This model sees addictive behaviour as a result of habitual ways of thinking and of interpreting events. The approach suggests that an addiction does not depend on the properties of the drug or activity alone but also on the reasons for taking it or engaging in the activity.

Initiation

Studies have shown that pathological gambling may run in famillies. For example, Black et al, found that the first degree relatives of PG's were more likely to suffer from pathological gambling too, compared with distant relatives. However, many suggest that this may be down to environmental influences rather than genetic. (see social-modeling influences)

Initiation

Family and Twin studies estimate the heritability of tobacco smoking to be between 39% and 80%.

Vink et al. studied 1572 dutch twin pairs and found both female and male, individual differences in smoking initiation were explained by genetic (44%) and environmental (56%) influences. This study supports the role of genetics in developing a smoking addiction.

Maintenance

Research suggests that the maintenance of a gambling addiction may be linked with pathological gamblers having an under active pituitary- adrenal response (PAR). Paris et al. measured levels of cortisol (stress hormone associated with PAR) before and after watching a video of their preferred mode of gambling and a video neutral stimuli (rollercoaster ride). Recreational gamblers had a significant increase in salivary cortisol levels after both videos, compared to pathological gamblers, who shown no change in levels of cortisol to either videos. This suggests a link between an under active PAR and PG.

Maintenance

Vink et al. also found that nicotine dependency was influenced by genetics (75%). This suggests that although initiation of smoking is more influenced by environmental factors, the maintenance of the habit is influenced strongly by individual differences in nicotine metabolism . Nicotine affects brain chemistry by activating the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain, leading to the release of dopamine, creating short lived feelings of pleasure for the smoker. Within hours nicotine levels in the blood drop, causing impairments to concentration and mood, causing smoker to smoke again in order to relieve them of their withdrawal symptoms.

Cognitive Explanations of Smoking

Initiation

Relapse

A PG is seen as a person who seeks excitement and who needs intense stimulation. A relapse is thought to be caused due to boredom avoidance. Researchers found that a PG had a significantly higher boredom proneness compared with non gamblers. This suggests that a poor boredom tolerance may lead to a repetitive gambling behaviour.

Relapse

Twin studies suggest that the ability to quit smoking is also subject to genetic influences. A twin study aimed to find whether genetic risk factors contributed to failed attempts to stop smoking. 54% of the risk for quitting failure could be linked to heritability.

Factors affecting Addictive Behaviour:

• Risk factors affecting development of addiction
• Media influence

Evaluation for the Biological Approach to Gambling

Evaluation of the biological approach to smoking

Explaining individual differences

Genetic explanations help us explain why some people are more prone to developing a gambling addiction yet others who have the same environmental experiences and life pressures do not. Some people are vulnerable to developing addictions due to their genetic predisposition (the diathesis stress model). This may also help explain why some PG's are more resistant to treatment and more likely to relapse than others.

Supporting research for the role of genetics in addiction

A study conducted in Iceland identified a specific gene variation on chromosome 15 that influenced the number of cigarettes a person smoked each day, nicotine dependency and the risk of developing smoking related diseases. Smokers who smoked less than ten a day were less likely to have a variation in the gene when compared with those smokers who smoke over ten a day. This suggests that genetic factors make it more likely that some people will become more dependent on nicotine than others, even if genetic factors have less of an impact on the initiation of smoking.

Ignores environmental and situational factors

Biological explanations of PG ignore external factors that may contribute towards the development of addiction The include factors such as the accessibility of gambling opportunities, incentives to gamble (free bets, peer pressure ect) and provision of alcoholic drinks whilst gambling. Therefore, we should consider the idea that it is not biological influences alone that cause PG, however an influence from both external and biological factors.

Limitations of Biological Explanation

This approach neglects to recognized that other factors may influence smoking behaviour eg the social context of smoking. This means the approach is reductionist and can be criticised for being too simplistic. However, the idea that this approach is reductionist may also be seen as an advantage. By reducing a complex phenomenon down to a simplistic level of biological explanation, it gives the possibility of treatment by various pharmacological methods.

Limitations of biological approach

Biological explanations do not explain why some forms of gambling are more addictive than others. For example, researchers found that men and women who get addicted to video gambling become compulsive gambling addicts in about one year, whereas those gamblers who bet on horses and sports tend to develop their compulsive addiction over the course of about 3 and a half years.

Reducing Addictive Behaviour:

• Theory of planned behaviour
• Types of intervention

Implications for Treatment

Genomic medicine involves screening people to identify those who carry genes increasing their susceptibility for addiction or diseases. Individuals found with higher risk factors of smoking addiction could then be advised on changing their behaviour or seek medical treatment to reduce chances of developing smoking related diseases. Although smoking would be suitable for this, researchers suggest that given the relatively small associations between specific genes and smoking addiction that have been reported, screening for genetic susceptibility would be unsuccessful.

Risk factors in the Development of Addiction

Learning Approach applied to Smoking and Gambling

Types of Intervention

Theory of planned Behaviour.

Media Influences on Addictive Behaviour