Risk factors of addiction

• What does the genetic vulnerability risk factor suggest?

  That addiction is polygenic and that it is associated with low levels of dopamine as a result of dopamine receptors in the brain
• What does polygenic mean in terms of addiction?

  That there are many genes that increase an individuals chances of devolving addition
• What does the stress risk factor suggest?

  That when in stressful setting or situations it can alter an individuals state of mind and lead to addiction
• What did the Vietnamese war study show about stress and addiction?

  20% of US soldiers who were stationed there for less than a year developed a heroin addiction but after having healthy bonds back home only 5% of soldiers had a heroin addiction
• What did Eysenck's personality inventory suggest about personality a a risk factor to addiction?


  That those who scores higher on choleric and melancholic traits were more likely to have addiction
• What does the social learning theory argue about addiction risk factors?

  That addiction can be learnt via observation of models and vicarious reinforcement
• What three risk factors did the SLT suggest?

  Family influences, peer influences and parental influences
• What is authoritative parenting in context of parental influences?


  A type of parenting which consist of warmth with appropriate control which increases a child's psychological resistance to addiction
• What did Eiser find about peer influences of addiction?

  That smokers tend to befriend other smokers