Answered: How does addiction work on the…

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)

5th Edition

ISBN:9780134477961

Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Publisher:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Chapter1: The Science Of Psychology

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1TY

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Question

How does addiction work on the physiological level and on the psychological level? What neurotransmitters are involved and what areas of the brain are involved? How is addiction a "learned" behavior (think about things like reinforcement)?

Expert Solution

Step 1

Addiction refers to the compulsive consumption of substance despite the harmful consequences. It gives a temporary feeling of euphoria and pleasure and develops dependency in the individual.

Step 2

Addiction at physiological level:

Individual consumes a substance or experience such as sex, or shopping and it releases the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens of the brain
Nucleus accumbens is a cluster of nerve cells lying underneath the cerebral cortex
higher dopamine levels are linked to the intensity of the consumption
addiction provides a shortcut to the release of dopamine
this pleasure leads to repetition of consumption or a rewarding activity

Addiction at psychological level:

it is interlinked with the physiological rewarding system
consumption of a substance or rewarding behavior is strengthened because of the reinforcement it gets in the form of pleasure
a behavior which is reinforced is more likely to be repeated
repeated experience of a 'high' or euphoria leads to learning of the consumption of the substance