DOPAMINE AO3

• SUPPORT that the role of DA is implicated in addiction. For example, Dani and Basi found that part of the reason why nicotine is so addictive is because it acts upon the dopaminergic systems, which helps reinforce rewarding behaviour. This shows a direct relationship between the neural mechanisms in the brain and the rewarding effects felt while smoking. This supports the role that dopamine plays in nicotine addiction. Nicotine increases dopamine levels in the brain therefore rewarding this behaviour and reinforces continuous use - this results in addiction.
• Not all addictive behaviours increase dopamine levels
• Stokes et al found no significant increase in dopamine levels in volunteers taking cannabis
• Yoder et al found no consistent increase in dopamine across the participants in their study who were given alcohol
• The lack of significant increase in dopamine levels for those taking cannabis


  Questions the role that dopamine plays in cannabis addiction
• Dopamine cannot be the only explanation for addiction
• Dopamine does not always increase in those given alcohol but some people still become addicts
• methodological issue - there are several studies involving the role of dopamine and the frontal cortex involve the use of non-human animals, Although this allows researchers to study the effects of drugs in aways that are not possible with humans, the studies may not give a true insight into how humans become addicted. This is a criticism of research towards dopamine and addiction, suggesting that research conducted on non-human animals is difficult to generalise to human addiction, Additionally , we cannot replicate behavioural addictions such as gambling.
• REDUCTIONIST - Dopamine explanation


  Can be accused of being over-simplistic
• Poverty


  Could also be a contributing factor to an individual developing addiction
• Recent studies in the UK and beyond have demonstrated a clear link between gambling and income inequalities
• Those with lower incomes are more likely to be 'problem' or 'at risk' gamblers than higher income groups, spending higher percentages of their income when they gamble
• Over simplistic

  Ignores many other factors which could contribute to addiction
• The dopamine explanation is only a partial explanation and cannot explain addiction fully
• Deterministic - The dopamine explanation is biologically deterministic. This is because if the individual does have excessive amounts of dopamine, then does it really mean that they will develop an addiction? This explanation totally ignores the idea of free will and reduces autonomy on our behaviour. Many people engage in drinking, gambling but do not become addicts. This is a clear example of a weakness of the dopamine explanation of addiction, when in reality there are a number of factors that contribute to this complex behaviour.