Transcript The Psychology of Addictive Behaviour - EduPsych

You will be able to
outline and
evaluate the
cognitive
explanation of
addiction
By the end you will
have created a
burger paragraph
for this approach!
Finish the sentences…
The cognitive approach believes the cause
of addictions lie in…
The cognitive approach believes addictions
are maintained through…
An addict may relapse according to the
cognitive approach because they see…
• Automatic processing (Tiffany, 1990)
• A trigger in their environment
• Faulty Cognitions
Can you remember Beck’s Cognitive Triad?
Can you apply it to addiction?
Beck’s Cognitive Triad
How can we apply this to Gambling?
Financial,
psychological or
social problems
Low mood
Addictive
behaviour
Good mood
Models
Self-medication
Expectancy
Self-Efficacy
The Self Medication model
Drugs are used
intentionally to
treat
psychological
symptoms
e.g., Anxiety,
lack of
confidence.
Marilyn Monroe died of
a barbiturate overdose
She received
Psychoanalysis for a
number of years
Fill in Initiation, Maintenance
and Relapse

In a situation (without the drug) psychological
symptoms return & the drug is needed again

Cannot cope without the drug!

Drug fulfils 3 roles: Mood regulation,
Performance Management, Distraction
Initiation
Drug fulfils 3 roles:
Mood regulation, Performance Management, Distraction
Maintenance
Cannot cope without the drug!
Relapse
In a situation (without the drug) psychological symptoms return
Drug is needed again
The Expectancy Theory
Addicts believe positive
effects outweigh
negative effects of these
behaviours (non addicts
are opposite).
This faulty thinking leads
to excessive use in the
believe of the good
outcomes…
People drink after stress,
not because it relieves
stress, but because they
expect it to relieve stress
There is scientific
evidence to show that
alcohol does not reduce
stress
Fill in Initiation, Maintenance
and Relapse

Unconscious memories are triggered and
need for the expectation returns

Expectations developed through modelling
(SLT): Heavier drinkers have more positive
expectations compared to light drinkers

Conscious expectations become
unconscious expectations (this can explain
the loss of control when addicted)
Initiation
Expectations developed through modelling (SLT)
Heavier drinkers have more positive expectations about the effects of alcohol compared to light
drinkers
Maintenance
Conscious expectations become unconscious expectations
Can explain loss of control when addicted
Relapse
Unconscious memories are triggered and need for this expectation returns
Self-Efficacy Theory
Bandura (1997)
Self-efficacy refers
to a belief in ones
self to organise and
succeed at
something.
Those with low
self-esteem will
look for a way
to boost their
confidence
and ability to
show certain
behaviours
Fill in Initiation, Maintenance
and Relapse
• Confidence/self-esteem drops again
and addiction returns
• Low self-efficacy maintains the
addiction (No confidence to give up)
• Low self-efficacy more likely to give in to
beginning an addiction
Initiation
Low self-efficacy more likely to give in to beginning an addiction
Maintenance
Low self-efficacy maintains the addiction
The addict does not have the confidence to give
Relapse
Confidence/self-esteem drops again and addiction returns
APFC
Aim
Procedure
Findings
Conclusion
Griffiths (1994) page 443-444