Conceptualizing Addiction

Conceptualizing Addiction

BSHS/455

Sep 26, 2016

Conceptualizing Addiction

Several things influence how someone forms an addiction.  Addiction not only affects the individual's body and mind, but addiction also affects everyone around them. There are several models or theories on addiction, with an understanding of what caused the addiction, we will then be able to figure out how to fix the problem. In comparison and identifying the viewpoints of two models of addiction, psychological and biological model, we will then begin to understand which of the two models is most useful for addiction intervention and treatment.

Psychological Model

        The psychological model describes addiction as being an individual situation and does not exclude other elements such as social factor when it comes to developing an addiction. There are different psychological theories of addiction such as the learning theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, and the psychodynamic theory.  The learning theory of addiction implies that the decision to use drugs or alcohol is influenced by observing and watching others use alcohol or drugs to decrease tension, anxiety, and stress, creating reinforcement to using. The cognitive behavioral theory suggests that individuals choose addictive behaviors over healthy behaviors due to the person's expectations. For example, someone might think that a healthier lifestyle is boring; someone might watch a movie where drug use is portrayed as being exciting and glamorous. The psychodynamic theory is a relation to an object or experience, which means that a person uses drugs or alcohol to cope with stress in their lives or a traumatic experience. (C. A. & D. M., 2012, Chapter 2).

Biological Model

        The biological model related to addiction is influenced by genetic predispositions, brain structure, and chemistry, and the response to their environment, and the individual’s adaptability of physiology and their behavior. The biological model suggests that each person's unique genetics and physiology is the cause of their addiction. The biological theory can explain why a person has addiction symptoms when the substance is no longer in their system. An individual’s predisposition suggests that there is a malfunction or mutation in a person’s body that cause them to crave for the substance or be susceptible to addiction ("Biological Causes of Addiction - Addictions," 2016).

Synergistic or Competing View of the Two Methods

        The biological and psychological models provide research that explains what causes someone to become addicted. Each model emphasizes their research on a particular part of the body. The psychological theory provides insight into how individuals interact, the way they think, or different personality characteristics. Treatment approaches for the psychological model are to retrain the person's way of thinking. The biological model provides insight into the individual's genetics having a particular relation to addiction, which is either absent or present, arguing that just changing a person's thought process will not cure addiction. The recovery method for the biological model is to understanding and recognizing a person’s genetic vulnerability.