Addiction is the physical and/or psychological dependence on the use of drugs or other substances, or dependence on activities or behaviours.

Give two examples of addiction.

Examples include smoking , opiate addiction , alcohol addiction and gambling addiction .

Define physical dependence .

Physical dependence is the physiological state of adaptation to a substance, resulting in tolerance, the absence of which produces withdrawal.

Define psychological dependence .

Psychological dependence is the compulsion to experience the effects of a substance, either to increase pleasure or to lessen discomfort.

Psychological dependence means the person keeps taking the drug until it becomes a , despite the harmful consequences.

Psychological dependence means the person keeps taking the drug until it becomes a habit , despite the harmful consequences.

Name two key behaviours where physical and psychological dependence overlap.

Overlapping behaviours include over-use , taking the substance even when you know it is bad for you, problems maintaining everyday activities and an inability to stop .

How does homeostasis explain tolerance?

The brain tries to maintain its balance , but regular consumption of large amounts of an addictive substance disrupts this, so the brain eventually rebalances at the new level .

Define metabolic tolerance .

Metabolic tolerance occurs when the substance is metabolised more quickly and therefore leaves the body sooner.

Define cellular tolerance .

Cellular tolerance involves changes in the responsiveness of the neurons as the brain tries to rebalance at a new level.

True or False? Both types of tolerance mean less of a substance is needed for the same effect.

False. Both metabolic and cellular tolerance result in more and more of the substance being needed to produce the same level of effect.

Define withdrawal syndrome .

Withdrawal syndrome occurs when an individual stops taking the addictive substance, or consumes a smaller dose, and experiences symptoms which are opposite to those induced by the drug.

Why does withdrawal syndrome help maintain addictive behaviour?

Withdrawal symptoms are often very unpleasant , providing a strong motivation to continue the addictive behaviour.

Alcohol withdrawal lasts 1-3 days and may include delirium tremens, causing confusion, and aggression.

Alcohol withdrawal lasts 1-3 days and may include delirium tremens, causing confusion, agitation and aggression.

When do intense nicotine withdrawal symptoms start and what do they include?

Intense nicotine withdrawal starts at 24-48 hours , can last many weeks, and includes irritability, anxiety, restlessness, increased appetite and weight gain.

True or False? Withdrawal from psychostimulants such as cocaine typically lasts up to two weeks.

True. Psychostimulant withdrawal symptoms generally last up to two weeks and may include depression, anxiety and disturbed sleep.

What did Marks et al. (1997) find about alcohol and nicotine dependence?

People dependent on alcohol were more likely to have higher nicotine dependence , so symptom overlap may increase the discomfort of nicotine withdrawal.

What did Oliver & Foulds (2021) find about light smokers?

Almost two-thirds of those smoking one to four cigarettes a day, and a quarter of those smoking less than weekly, were addicted to nicotine , so even light smokers may need treatment to quit.

How has understanding physical and psychological dependence improved treatment?

Treatment has moved from single efforts at detoxification to following this with longer-term rehabilitation .

How has the DSM-5 helped reduce stigma around addiction?

Identifying addiction as substance use disorder with a physical as well as a psychological component has helped to reduce some of the stigma .

Why is it difficult to research tolerance and withdrawal?

Research tends to use self-report measures , which affect the validity of the data due to issues such as social desirability bias .

Why can't addiction research explain individual differences in dependence?

It cannot take all environmental and motivational factors into account, such as home situation, economic worries and loneliness.

How does addiction research reflect both nature and nurture?

Tolerance and withdrawal suggest a nature -based explanation via brain chemistry, whereas psychological dependence and factors like stress or trauma point to nurture .

True or False? Research into addiction mostly uses idiographic methods.

False. Much research uses nomothetic methods, applying general laws to large groups, though it would benefit from idiographic insights such as personal histories.

A LevelPsychologyAQAFlashcardsAddiction: Option Topic (Section D)Describing Addiction

Describing Addiction (AQA A Level Psychology): Flashcards

Exam code: 7182

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FrontWhat is Addiction?
Define addiction.

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Cards in this collection (23)

Define addiction.
Addiction is the physical and/or psychological dependence on the use of drugs or other substances, or dependence on activities or behaviours.
Give two examples of addiction.
Examples include smoking, opiate addiction, alcohol addiction and gambling addiction.
Define physical dependence.
Physical dependence is the physiological state of adaptation to a substance, resulting in tolerance, the absence of which produces withdrawal.
Define psychological dependence.
Psychological dependence is the compulsion to experience the effects of a substance, either to increase pleasure or to lessen discomfort.
Psychological dependence means the person keeps taking the drug until it becomes a , despite the harmful consequences.
Psychological dependence means the person keeps taking the drug until it becomes a habit, despite the harmful consequences.
Name two key behaviours where physical and psychological dependence overlap.
Overlapping behaviours include over-use, taking the substance even when you know it is bad for you, problems maintaining everyday activities and an inability to stop.
How does homeostasis explain tolerance?
The brain tries to maintain its balance, but regular consumption of large amounts of an addictive substance disrupts this, so the brain eventually rebalances at the new level.
Define metabolic tolerance.
Metabolic tolerance occurs when the substance is metabolised more quickly and therefore leaves the body sooner.
Define cellular tolerance.
Cellular tolerance involves changes in the responsiveness of the neurons as the brain tries to rebalance at a new level.
True or False?
Both types of tolerance mean less of a substance is needed for the same effect.
False.
Both metabolic and cellular tolerance result in more and more of the substance being needed to produce the same level of effect.
Define withdrawal syndrome.
Withdrawal syndrome occurs when an individual stops taking the addictive substance, or consumes a smaller dose, and experiences symptoms which are opposite to those induced by the drug.
Why does withdrawal syndrome help maintain addictive behaviour?
Withdrawal symptoms are often very unpleasant, providing a strong motivation to continue the addictive behaviour.
Alcohol withdrawal lasts 1-3 days and may include delirium tremens, causing confusion, and aggression.
Alcohol withdrawal lasts 1-3 days and may include delirium tremens, causing confusion, agitation and aggression.
When do intense nicotine withdrawal symptoms start and what do they include?
Intense nicotine withdrawal starts at 24-48 hours, can last many weeks, and includes irritability, anxiety, restlessness, increased appetite and weight gain.
True or False?
Withdrawal from psychostimulants such as cocaine typically lasts up to two weeks.
True.
Psychostimulant withdrawal symptoms generally last up to two weeks and may include depression, anxiety and disturbed sleep.
What did Marks et al. (1997) find about alcohol and nicotine dependence?
People dependent on alcohol were more likely to have higher nicotine dependence, so symptom overlap may increase the discomfort of nicotine withdrawal.
What did Oliver & Foulds (2021) find about light smokers?
Almost two-thirds of those smoking one to four cigarettes a day, and a quarter of those smoking less than weekly, were addicted to nicotine, so even light smokers may need treatment to quit.
How has understanding physical and psychological dependence improved treatment?
Treatment has moved from single efforts at detoxification to following this with longer-term rehabilitation.
How has the DSM-5 helped reduce stigma around addiction?
Identifying addiction as substance use disorder with a physical as well as a psychological component has helped to reduce some of the stigma.
Why is it difficult to research tolerance and withdrawal?
Research tends to use self-report measures, which affect the validity of the data due to issues such as social desirability bias.
Why can't addiction research explain individual differences in dependence?
It cannot take all environmental and motivational factors into account, such as home situation, economic worries and loneliness.
How does addiction research reflect both nature and nurture?
Tolerance and withdrawal suggest a nature-based explanation via brain chemistry, whereas psychological dependence and factors like stress or trauma point to nurture.
True or False?
Research into addiction mostly uses idiographic methods.
False.
Much research uses nomothetic methods, applying general laws to large groups, though it would benefit from idiographic insights such as personal histories.

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