Biological Model Of Addiction

There are many different kinds of addictions, from alcohol to substance abuse; but not all are drugs of some kind. Addiction is defined as “to a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning”. The various addictions vary but several theories claim to give explanations to the modelling of addiction. Genetic theories, exposure theories (both biological and conditioning), and adaptation theories.

Biological model -

According to this model, biological factors within the individual is the main cause for addictive behaviour. Neuro-chemical imbalances or having a genetic predisposition towards addictive behaviour are examples of the model. Therefore, an individual may be very vulnerable to developing an addiction as it could
Many studies have been conducted to account for environmental elements and to determine if genetics plays a greater role; studies looking at alcoholism have shown that children born from alcoholic parents and then are adopted into a non-alcoholic family have an significant increase in becoming an alcoholic over the rest of the population. Furthermore, children born and raised by alcoholic parents have an even greater chance of suppressing to alcoholism. These pieces of research suggest that there is some type of genetic predisposition to alcoholism. However, limitations have arrived from these research as it may be not the alcoholism that the children are inheriting a predisposition for, but the additive behaviour itself. Additionally, the circular argument arises as to whether or not the addictive behaviour is encoded within an individual or if there is a biological system that begins the addictive behaviour. Moreover, more questions have been asked wondering if there is a genetic difference which allows some people to realise when their maximum alcohol level in their has been reached to tell the brain to stop drinking that others do not
Classical conditioning could cause addictive behaviour through a process whereby an unconditioned stimulus produces an unconditioned response; if the unconditioned stimulus is associated with a conditioned stimulus this conditioned stimulus will produce a conditioned response leaving the individual feeling relaxed and wanting to repeat the process. The unconditioned stimulus being with a group of peers, the unconditioned response being feeling happy or relaxed and the conditioned stimulus being the addition, e.g. cigarettes or alcohol. Operant conditioning is when the consequences of actions are likely to be repeated when a behaviour is rewarded; either through positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement. The positive being feeling relaxed after the said additive substance and a negative being feeling withdrawal symptoms. Social learning theory suggests we do not need to experience the given behaviour first hand but need to observe other peoples behaviour in order to try. Therefore, a child experiencing their parent smoking or gambling will most likely try it after experiencing their parents happy moods after doing/ taking the