PSY BEH 164C Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Reward System, Impulsivity, Self-Awareness
21 Jun 2018
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Theoretical Models of Addiction: (October 10, 2017 )
Substantial comorbidity in SUD
oNearly half of substances abusers meet criteria for polysubstance abuse
Externalizing psychopathology - acting out of social norm (aggression, bullying,
high levels of anger)
Internalizing psychopathology - tendency to experience intrapsychic distress
(anxiety, depression)
Biological Models
oNeurobiological models
Most drugs interact with dopamine (reward system), but mechanism varies with
specific drug
Repeated but casual use can lead to hypersensitivity to reward system, which
can encourage escalation of use
Chronic and heavy use can lead to:
Hypersensitization and binge use
Chronic negative emotion and increased use to relieve distresses may
Individuals min the degree to which drugs are reinforcing, even at early stages
of use
Significant differences in releases of dopamine
Impulsivity
Preference for immediate reward over larger delayed reward
Inability or unwillingness to inhibit predominant behavioral responses
Substance users are more likely to prefer immediate rewards
Difficulty inhibiting responses predicts later substance abuse
Twin studies
For commonly used substances (alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, and cocaine)
Shared Environmental factors: accounted for modest amount of
variance in vulnerability to either use or become dependent (0% - 30%)
Non-shared environmental factors : accounted for moderate to large of
variance in vulnerability to either use or become dependent (30% - 65%)
no consistent patterns across substances or between use/dependence
Genetic influences are weaker and shared environmental influences are
stronger on SUDs in adolescence than in adulthood
Psychological Perspectives
oDevelopmental Perspectives
Early research was retrospective
Prospective research demonstrated importance of conceptualizing SUDs within
developmental
Vast majority of ppl first try substances some time between early and late
adolescence
Average rates of heavy and problematic use increase throughout late
adolescences, peak in early to mid-20's, and decline in late 20's
Most people who stop problematic substance use do so spontaneously,
without treatment (grow out)
Marriage, kids, career
Deviant peer: Decrease association with people and institutions that value
sobriety
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Theoretical models of addiction: (october 10, 2017 ) Nearly half of substances abusers meet criteria for polysubstance abuse. Externalizing psychopathology - acting out of social norm (aggression, bullying, high levels of anger) Internalizing psychopathology - tendency to experience intrapsychic distress (anxiety, depression) Most drugs interact with dopamine (reward system), but mechanism varies with specific drug. Repeated but casual use can lead to hypersensitivity to reward system, which can encourage escalation of use. Chronic negative emotion and increased use to relieve distresses may. Individuals min the degree to which drugs are reinforcing, even at early stages of use. Preference for immediate reward over larger delayed reward. Inability or unwillingness to inhibit predominant behavioral responses. Substance users are more likely to prefer immediate rewards. Difficulty inhibiting responses predicts later substance abuse. For commonly used substances (alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, and cocaine) Shared environmental factors: accounted for modest amount of variance in vulnerability to either use or become dependent (0% - 30%)
