Therefore, additional factors that may increase susceptibility to addiction warrant consideration. When examining such factors, it may be beneficial to adopt a multidisciplinary perspective, appraising the potential value of integrating the breadth of literature that exists on addiction within individual disciplines. In beginning to address this notion, the goal of the present review is to evaluate whether the consideration of neurobiological and psychodynamic perspectives provides insight to our understanding of addiction, particularly substance-use disorders (SUDs). First, addiction will be discussed from a neurobiological perspective, based on recent neuroscientific findings and with a critical consideration of two central neurobiological theories of addiction –namely the “Opponent-process” (Solomon & Corbit, 1974) and the “Incentive-sensitization” (Robinson & Berridge, 1993) theories. Second, addiction will be explored through a psychodynamic lens to understand some subjective and relational aspects of the disorder. Finally, the value in synthesizing neuroscience and psychodynamic perspectives to our understanding of addiction will be considered, particularly in relation to attachment bonds.
There is some evidence that natural variation in genetic makeup of the dopamine system may influence who gets addicted. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter activated by rewarding activities as a way of increasing the likelihood of engaging in such activities in the future. Having a relationship, getting a promotion, doing something creative—those are normal ways of stimulating the reward system. The vast majority of children whose parents abuse alcohol or drugs do not grow up to do the same. However, they are at some increased risk for doing so, and there are a number of reasons why. For one, they are exposed to those substances, and exposure during early adolescence may especially influence substance use.
For the variable of self-acceptance, previous studies have more often adopted a variable-centered research paradigm, assuming homogeneity within the sample 28, and exploring the influencing factors or mediating roles from the overall perspective of the variable 12, 28,29,30,31. Variable-centered analyses containing more than three interacting variables may be difficult to interpret and may be less suitable for making inferences about individuals 32. It may cause statistical problems such as increases in the variance inflation factor and reduced statistical power 33. The use of latent profile analysis (LPA) helps to identify clusters of individuals with different levels of self-acceptance, providing a more accurate understanding of the diversity and complexity of self-acceptance among drug addicts. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt an individual-centered research approach (LPA) to study the heterogeneity of self-acceptance among drug users and to determine the existence of subgroups in sample 34. This study could also explore differences in subthreshold depression levels between profiles of self-acceptance, providing a basis for precise interventions.
Cultural Influences
This path forward requires the courage to set aside simplistic narratives about addiction to embrace a more nuanced, compassionate understanding of human psychological development. Harm reduction embraces a profound therapeutic stance—a commitment to human dignity that recognizes the complex, beautiful resilience of individuals navigating profound psychological challenges. In the landscape of addiction treatment, we often find ourselves searching for approaches that honor the fundamental human need for connection. Harm reduction, frequently misunderstood, offers more than a pragmatic intervention; it represents a relational strategy rooted in attachment theory. As a result, some of the most important work a therapist can do involves being rather than doing. The prominent belief several decades ago was that addiction resulted from bad choices stemming from a morally weak person.
- Overcoming addiction often requires a continuum of care tailored to individual needs.
- Just as recovery from addiction requires focusing on rewarding activities other than drug use, so does prevention.
- It’s like moving from a world of black and white to one rich with color, where each person’s journey through addiction and recovery is recognized as unique.
- Each model offers a unique perspective, like different instruments in an orchestra, each contributing its own melody to the overall symphony of understanding.
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These imaginary representations are imbued with real (i.e., conscious) and fantasized (i.e., unconscious) qualities of significant others and relationships. Throughout development, these internal objects and their imaginary interaction with the external world model and guide future social interactions by means of associative learning (Johnson, 2013). The failure of primary caregivers at providing proper care and affection is thought to be experienced by the infant as a “nameless dread” (Bion, 1962), or as having lost the object’s love (Freud, S., 1917; Klein, 1940). This highly distressing internal state is thought to thwart the infant’s ability to integrate the good (i.e., nurturing, soothing) and bad (i.e., distressing, frustrating) qualities of the internal object. Individuals with addiction may reach out for an “external regulator” (i.e., drug) to emulate the soothing qualities of the good object and “wall-off” the distressing bad object (Kernberg, Diamond, Yeomans, Clarkin, & Levy, 2008; Krystal, 1978).
Meanwhile, the Personality Model links certain traits like impulsivity to addictive behaviors. Taken together, while multiple theories of addiction exist, many are not mutually exclusive. As we describe above, viewing addictive disorders from an attachment perspective may help promote an improved understanding of these conditions that often carry negative individual and familial impacts.
Neuroscience research supports the idea that addiction is a habit that becomes deeply entrenched and self-perpetuating, rewiring the circuitry of the brain as it is repeated. The repetition of a highly pleasurable experience—drugs, gambling—alters neurons; they adjust their wiring to become increasingly efficient at the experience. As drug use stops, engaging in other rewarding activities rewires the brain to find interest and pleasure in non-drug pursuits. Alcohol in some form is widely used for pleasurable purposes and is an important part of the social fabric worldwide, today as in ancient times.
As we conclude our journey through the diverse landscape of addiction models, it becomes clear that no single framework can fully capture the complexity of substance use disorders. From biological models that unravel the brain’s role to psychological perspectives that delve into the mind, from social theories that consider environmental influences to integrative approaches that combine multiple viewpoints, each model offers valuable insights into different facets of addiction. Moving beyond the biological realm, psychological models of addiction offer a different perspective, focusing on the mental processes and emotional factors that contribute to substance use disorders. These models provide crucial insights into the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of addiction, complementing the biological understanding we’ve explored. Shifting gears, we come to the social learning model of addiction, which views substance abuse through the lens of Albert Bandura’s sober house social learning theory.
The effect of self-acceptance type on subthreshold depression in compulsory isolation of drug addicts
In August 2024, the “Psychological Correction and Rehabilitation System for Drug Addicts with Family Therapy as the Core” National Advantage Education and Treatment Project Special Training and Practical Teaching Class was held in Chengdu, Sichuan 81. Latent profile is a combination of potential characteristics or behavior patterns of different individuals or groups, which is indirectly inferred by a series of observable variables in data analysis. These potential characteristics are not directly revealed in the data, but the similarities and differences of different individuals or groups in multiple dimensions can be revealed through analysis, which provides a powerful tool for deeply understanding complex data structures 44.
How does stress impact recovery?
- The reward deficiency syndrome (RDS) hypothesis presents another intriguing perspective.
- The factors that increase an individual’s risk for addiction are numerous, yet they all find their place in the biopsychosocial model of addiction (Marlatt & Baer, 1988).
- China plays a pivotal role in global anti-drug action and is an indispensable participant, contributor and leader.
- Consequently, it may trigger psychological issues like subthreshold depression and hinder drug rehabilitation progress.
These basic learning theories are taken a step further with an understanding of social learning theory. A person does not necessarily have to experience the rewards and punishments themselves; learning also happens by watching others engage in the behavior and seeing what happens to them. New neuroimaging techniques are allowing us to peer into the brain in real-time, offering unprecedented insights into the neural mechanisms of addiction. Genetic research is uncovering new links between our DNA and susceptibility to substance use disorders.
However, there are a number of personality traits, each of which is partly genetically influenced, that contribute to the risk of addiction. Impulsivity is thought to play its strongest role in the early stages of addiction, driving the motivation for seeking drugs. The syndrome model of addiction proposes that various addictions, whether to substances or behaviors, share common underlying mechanisms. It’s like recognizing that whether you’re addicted to chocolate, gambling, or heroin, the brain’s reward system is playing a similar tune. Cultural and environmental influences on addiction are like the air we breathe – often invisible, but profoundly impactful. From societal attitudes towards substance use to the availability of drugs in a community, these factors can shape an individual’s path towards or away from addiction.
Ch. 1: Introduction to Psychological Models of Addiction
These interventions are effective in improving emotional bonds, maternal reflective functioning skills, and mother-infant interactions so as to reduce the likelihood of addiction and maladaptive attachment styles in future generations (Pajulo & Kalland, 2013; Suchman, et al., 2008, 2011, 2013). Males had lower levels of self-acceptance than females, HIV-positive than negative, less educated than more educated, and drug addicts who were alienated. High self-appraisal-high self-acceptance reduced subthreshold depression among drug addicts, and congruence between self-appraisal and self-acceptance alleviated subthreshold depression among drug addicts. This suggests that we enhance the level of self-evaluation and self-acceptance of drug addicts to https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ promote psychological health.
Stages of Addiction: A Neurological Journey Through the Brain
Sichuan Province is a province with high incidence of AIDS 52, and the knowledge about AIDS prevention and control is popular in society, so it also brings more social discrimination and social stigma to drug addicts. The results of the study showed that drug addicts’ self-acceptance could be categorized into five potential categories. Most drug addicts’ self-acceptance levels were at a low to moderate level, which is consistent with the findings of previous studies 45. Tajfel’s social homogeneity theory states that dividing people into two groups can lead to intergroup discrimination and competition 46. Drug addicts may be socially marginalized due to past drug use, leading to self-stigma, reduced self-acceptance, and negative emotions.
- Kaij recruited 174 male twin pairs born in Sweden and categorised each twin in one of the five categories of alcohol use based on the interviews with their relatives.
- Poverty, lack of education, and limited access to healthcare can all contribute to increased risk of addiction.
- In conclusion, the psychological models of addiction offer a rich tapestry of understanding, each thread contributing to our overall picture of this complex issue.
- As our understanding of the brain and behavior continues to evolve, so too do our theories of addiction.
- Therefore, addiction may be understood as a failure in the ability to evoke the soothing qualities of the good internal object (i.e., symbolization; Bion, 1962; Klein, 1930; Segal, 1998), or as an attempt to “control” these object qualities through the use of drugs to modulate feelings of distress (Waska, 2006).
- The narrative medicine to addiction focuses on recognizing, absorbing, and interpreting the stories of those suffering from addiction, allowing for better understanding of their experiences232 with narrative analysis being used to study the discourse of those with addiction.
Addiction is a prevalent issue in society; theories have been proposed to help us understand the cause of addiction, freepik.com. In this article, we’ll look at the different explanations of addiction and why some people become addicted and others don’t. In 2019, opioid addiction was acknowledged as a national crisis in the United States.194 An article in The Washington Post stated that “America’s largest drug companies flooded the country with pain pills from 2006 through 2012, even when it became apparent that they were fueling addiction and overdoses.”
The narrative medicine to addiction focuses on recognizing, absorbing, and interpreting the stories of those suffering from addiction, allowing for better understanding of their experiences232 with narrative analysis being used to study the discourse of those with addiction. This knowledge can be used to develop better care plans with the potential to increase patient compliance and make treatment more effective. The implications of these theoretical models for addiction treatment and prevention are profound. They’ve led to more nuanced, personalized approaches to care, recognizing that what works for one person might not work for another.