PSYC 2800 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Psychological Dependence, Reinforcement, Physical Dependence

• School: Memorial University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2800
• Professor: Anna Rissannen

Document Summary

Diminished effect on the body after repeated use of the same drug. The body develop ways to compensate caused by the drug. Regular drug users may build up tolerance to the extent that their dosage would kill a novice user. Withdrawal adjustments the body has made to a drug, often opposite to the drugs effects. Results to tolerance to drug-induced euphoria, and withdrawal symptoms. The occurrence of a withdrawal syndrome defines physical dependence. If drug use is stopped suddenly, withdrawal symptoms occur, ranging from mild to severe. Physi(cid:272)al depe(cid:374)de(cid:374)(cid:272)e (cid:373)ea(cid:374)s the (cid:271)ody has adapted to the drug"s prese(cid:374)(cid:272)e. Psychological or behavioural dependence: high frequency of drug use, emotional desire/craving for the drug to elicit positive effect, tendency to relapse after stopping use. The consequences reinforce behaviour: over time, this becomes the biggest reason users report they continue to use. Early medical model true addiction involves physical dependence: key is treat(cid:373)e(cid:374)t of (cid:449)ithdra(cid:449)al sy(cid:373)pto(cid:373)s, u(cid:374)til (cid:1005)96(cid:1004)"s.