Describe the characteristics of addictive behaviours

• Point

  One characteristic of addictive behaviour is salience, which means that the addiction becomes the most important aspect of an individual's life
• Evidence

  Griffiths (2005) explains that salience occurs when an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and actions revolve around the addictive behaviour, even when they are not actively engaging in it
• Explain

  This means that the individual prioritises their addiction over other responsibilities, such as work, relationships, and hobbies. For example, a gambling addict may spend most of their time thinking about strategies to obtain money to fund their gambling habits
• Link

  This demonstrates how addiction can dominate a person’s life, making it difficult for them to focus on anything else
• Point

  Another characteristic is mood modification, where engaging in the addictive behaviour leads to changes in emotional state
• Evidence

  Addicts may experience a ‘high,’ a sense of escape, or relaxation when performing the behaviour. Griffiths (2005) suggests that individuals use addiction as a coping mechanism for stress or emotional difficulties
• Explain

  For example, a smoker may rely on nicotine to feel energised in the morning and relaxed in the evening. Similarly, a gambling addict might feel excitement and relief when placing bets
• Link

  This highlights how addictive behaviours can serve as a form of self-medication, reinforcing continued engagement in the behaviour
• Point

  Tolerance is another key characteristic, where the individual requires increasing amounts of the substance or behaviour to achieve the same effect
• Evidence

  This is often associated with chemical addictions, but it also applies to behavioural addictions such as gambling. Research by Griffiths (1993) found that regular gamblers’ heart rates decreased faster than non-gamblers, meaning they needed to gamble more frequently to maintain the same level of excitement
• Explain

  Over time, addicts find that the initial level of pleasure or relief diminishes, pushing them to engage in the behaviour more intensely or frequently
• link

  This demonstrates how addiction escalates, leading to deeper dependence
• Point

  A further characteristic is withdrawal symptoms, which occur when an individual stops the addictive behaviour
• Evidence

  These symptoms can both be physical, such as headaches and nausea, and psychological, including irritability and mood swings. Even though withdrawal is commonly linked to substance addiction, it can also be seen in behavioural addictions
• Explain

  For example, a gambling addict who stops betting may experience restlessness, anxiety, and frustration, making it difficult for them to stay away from gambling
• link

  This highlights how addiction leads to dependency, making quitting extremely challenging
• Point

  Conflict is another defining feature of addictive behaviour, where the addiction creates problems in the individual’s personal and professional life
• Evidence

  Griffiths (2005) describes two types of conflict: interpersonal conflict, which affects relationships with family and friends, and intrapsychic conflict, where addicts struggle with internal guilt and the desire to quit
• Explain

  For example, a gambling addict may experience relationship breakdowns due to financial problems caused by their addiction. At the same time, they may recognise their destructive behaviour but feel unable to stop
• Link

  This shows how addiction can lead to significant emotional distress and social isolation
• Point

  The final characteristic is relapse, where an individual returns to their addiction even after a period of abstinence
• Evidence

  This is common in both chemical and behavioural addictions, with individuals often reverting to their addiction despite past efforts to quit
• Explain

  For example, a gambling addict might successfully stop betting for months but then relapse after experiencing stress or seeing an opportunity to win money. A gambler might repeatedly attempt to quit but always return to gambling.
• Link

  This highlights the persistent nature of addiction and the difficulty of achieving long-term recovery