Welcome to the World of Addiction Psychology!
Hi there! In this chapter, we are going to explore why people become addicted to certain substances or behaviours and, more importantly, how psychology helps them stop. Addiction is a fascinating part of the Issues and Options section because it combines biology (our brains), our environment (friends and family), and our thinking patterns (cognition).
Don't worry if some of the scientific terms look a bit scary—we’ll break them down together using simple analogies and step-by-step guides!
1. Describing Addiction: The Basics
Before we look at why addiction happens, we need to know what it actually looks like. There are four key concepts you must understand:
Physical Dependence: This is when the body has adjusted to a substance so much that it needs it to function "normally." If the person stops, their body reacts physically.
Psychological Dependence: This is "all in the mind." It’s the feeling that you cannot cope with life or a specific situation without the substance or behaviour (like gambling).
Tolerance: Have you ever noticed how the first time you drink coffee, you feel super awake, but after a month, you need two cups to feel the same? That’s tolerance. Your brain has adapted, so you need more of the substance to get the original effect.
Withdrawal Syndrome: This is the "crash." When a person stops taking a substance they are dependent on, they experience unpleasant physical and mental symptoms (like shakes, anxiety, or nausea).
Analogy: Think of a smartphone battery. When it's new, it lasts all day (low tolerance). As it gets older, you have to charge it more often to get the same use (high tolerance). If you forget your charger, you feel stressed and can't do your work (withdrawal/dependence).
Quick Review: The Difference
Tolerance = Needing more for the same "high."
Withdrawal = Feeling ill when you stop.
Key Takeaway: Addiction isn't just a "bad habit"; it involves real changes to how the body and mind work together.
2. Why Me? Risk Factors in Addiction
Why do some people try a cigarette and never touch one again, while others get hooked? Psychologists look at three main risk factors:
A. Genetic Vulnerability
Some people are born with a genetic "blueprint" that makes them more likely to develop an addiction. It’s not one single "addiction gene," but rather how our DNA affects our dopamine receptors. If your brain doesn't naturally process "feel-good" chemicals well, you might seek them out through substances.
B. Personality
There is no "addictive personality" type, but certain traits are linked to higher risk:
1. Impulsivity: Acting without thinking about the consequences.
2. Neuroticism: Feeling high levels of anxiety or negative emotions.
C. Social Influences
This is about the world around us.
Peers: If your friends smoke or gamble, it becomes "normal" (Social Learning Theory).
Family: If parents use substances to cope with stress, children often copy that behaviour.
Memory Aid: G.P.S.
Genetics, Personality, Social influences. Use your "GPS" to find the risk factors!
3. Nicotine Addiction: Brains and Learning
Nicotine (found in cigarettes/vapes) is incredibly addictive. We explain it in two ways:
The Biological Way: Brain Neurochemistry
When someone inhales nicotine, it reaches the brain in seconds and triggers the release of dopamine in the "reward pathway." This creates a feeling of pleasure and relaxation. However, the effect wears off quickly, leading to withdrawal symptoms, which makes the person smoke again to get that "hit" back.
The Learning Way: Cue Reactivity
This is based on Classical Conditioning. If a person always smokes while drinking coffee or while waiting at a bus stop, these things become cues.
1. The Object: The coffee/bus stop (Neutral Stimulus).
2. The High: The nicotine (Unconditioned Stimulus).
Eventually, just seeing the coffee cup makes the brain expect nicotine, leading to an intense craving. This is called cue reactivity.
Key Takeaway: Nicotine hooks you twice—once by changing your brain chemistry and once by "training" your brain to want it in certain situations.
4. Gambling Addiction: Winning and Thinking
Gambling is a "behavioural addiction." You aren't swallowing a chemical, but your brain reacts similarly.
Learning Theory: Reinforcement
Why do people keep playing even when they lose?
Partial/Variable Reinforcement: If you won every time, it would be boring. If you never won, you’d stop. But because wins are unpredictable (you don't know which spin will win), the brain becomes obsessed with the "maybe." This makes the behaviour very hard to stop.
Cognitive Theory: Cognitive Biases
Gamblers often have "faulty thinking." Common mistakes include:
The Gambler’s Fallacy: Thinking that because you’ve lost ten times in a row, you are "due" a win. (In reality, every spin is totally random!)
Illusion of Control: Thinking you have a "special skill" or "lucky charm" that helps you win a game of pure chance.
Did you know? Fruit machines are designed to give "near misses" (where the symbols almost line up). This tricks the brain into thinking you "nearly won," which encourages you to play again!
5. How to Stop: Reducing Addiction
Psychology offers several ways to help people quit.
Drug Therapy
We can use medicine to manage withdrawal or block the "high." For example, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) like patches or gum gives a small, safe dose of nicotine to reduce withdrawal symptoms without the dangerous tar and smoke of cigarettes.
Behavioural Interventions
These try to "unlearn" the addiction:
Aversion Therapy: Pairing the addiction with something nasty. For example, a smoker might be forced to smoke very rapidly until they feel sick. They then associate smoking with vomiting.
Covert Sensitisation: Similar to aversion therapy, but done in the imagination. A therapist might ask a gambler to imagine losing their house and the look of disappointment on their family’s faces while they think about gambling.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps by:
1. Identifying Triggers: Finding out what makes the person want to use (e.g., stress).
2. Changing Thoughts: Challenging the "Gambler's Fallacy" or the idea that "I need a cigarette to relax."
3. Skill Building: Learning new ways to say "no" or cope with stress.
Quick Review:
Drugs = Fix the biology.
Aversion = Make it nasty.
CBT = Fix the thinking.
6. Prochaska’s Six-Stage Model
Stopping an addiction isn't a one-time event; it’s a journey. Prochaska identified six stages people go through:
1. Pre-contemplation: "I don't have a problem." (Denial)
2. Contemplation: "Maybe I should quit, but I'm not ready yet." (Sitting on the fence)
3. Preparation: "I’m going to stop next Monday. I've bought the nicotine patches." (Planning)
4. Action: "I have stopped. It’s been three days." (Doing it)
5. Maintenance: "I haven't smoked for six months. It’s hard, but I’m sticking to it." (Keeping it up)
6. Termination: "I no longer have any desire to smoke. I am free." (The end goal)
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume everyone moves smoothly from 1 to 6. People often relapse (slip back) to an earlier stage, and that's okay—they just start the process again!
Final Encouragement: You’ve made it through the notes! Addiction is a complex topic, but if you remember the "G.P.S." risk factors and the difference between biological and learning explanations, you'll be well on your way to AQA success!