Addictive Behaviour - The Biological Approach

GAMBLING

INITIATION

• Genetics - studies have shown that pathological gambling runs in families.
• Shah et al (2005) - found evidence of genetic transmission of gambling in men.

MAINTENANCE

• Pituitary-adrenal response - research suggests that pathological gambling is associated with an underactive pituitary-adrenal response to gambling stimuli.
• Zuckerman et al (1979) - there are individual differences in the need for optimal amounts of stimulation. Sensation seekers look for varied or novel experiences. High sensation seekers have a lover appreciation of risk and anticipate arousal as more positive than do low sensation seekers, are therefore more likely to gamble.

RELAPSE

• Boredom avoidance - the pathological gambler is seen as a person who needs intense stimulation and excitement.
• Blaszczynski et al (1990) - found that poor tolerance for boredom may contribute to repetitive gambling behaviour.

SMOKING

INITIATION

• Role of genetics - family and twin studies estimate the heritability of tobacco smoking to be between 39% and 80%.
• Boardman et al (2008) - a US study of 348 identical twins and 321 same-sex fraternal twin pairs. Estimated heritability for regular smoking to be 42%

MAINTENANCE

• Effects of nicotine - nicotine affects brain chemistry by activating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) in the brain which leads to release of dopamine.

RELAPSE

• Twin studies - suggest that the ability to quit smoking is also subject to genetic influences.
• Xian et al (2003) - found that 54% of the risk for failure to quit could be attributed to heritability.

Evaluation

• Neglect other factors - such as social aspects, furthermore if smoking addiction is purely biological, it should be able to be treated by pharmalogical methods.
• Animal research - lots of research is into non-human research, the problem is that the animals used aren't similar to humans. Also, research on animals is not moral and the animals have a lower quality of life, however the ends justify means.
• Deterministic - the biological approach states that people with the specific gene will be more susceptible to gambling or smoking.
• Individual differences - other factors are not considered, for example peers and age.
• Reductionist - reduce a complex issue such as smoking or gambling addiction to a simple level of explanation.
• Nature/Nurture - the biological approach looks at nature more than the nurture side of this issue.