Transcript Personality Disorders and Drug Addiction

Personality Disorders and Drug
Addiction
Lesson 5
Objectives
• Describe how personality disorders differ
from other psychological disorders
• Explain how drug abuse is a psychological
problem.
Bell Ringer
• Read exploring psychology p. 474.
Personality Disorders
• Maladaptive or inflexible ways of dealing
with others and one’s environment
– Can’t establish meaningful relationships
– Includes those painfully shy, to those who are
pushy show-offs
Antisocial Personality
• A personality disorder characterized by
irresponsibility, shallow emotions, and lack
of conscience.
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Disregard for others’ rights
Live for the moment- no plan, can’t wait
Feel no shame or guilt
Punishment is not a deterrent
Antisocial Personality
• Get away with it because they are intelligent and
entertaining
• Hugh Johnson was a con man with this disorderjustified it this way
• “I never took more from a person than they could
afford to lose and that he was only reducing the
likelihood that other more dangerous criminals
would force to achieve the same ends.”
Antisocial Personality
• May have inherited it from anti-social
parents
• May have faulty nervous system
• Never learn to anticipate punishment
• Remain calm while committing antisocial
acts
Drug Addiction
• Major psychological problem in U.S.
• Psychological dependence- use of a drug to such
an extent that a person feels nervous and anxious
without it
• Addiction-a pattern of drug abuse characterized by
an overwhelming and compulsive desire to obtain
and use the drug.
– Drugged state becomes the normal state
Drug Addiction
• Once addicted, a person develops a
tolerance for the drug
– Physical adaptation to a drug so that a person
needs an increased amount in order to produce
the original effect
• Have to increase amount to obtain same
affects
Drug Addiction
• Withdrawal- the symptoms that occur after
a person discontinues the use of a drug to
which he or she has become addicted
Alcoholism
• Country’s most serious drug problem
• Often begins at an early age
– 88% of all high school senior
– 54% in the last month
– 35% consumed five or more drinks in a row in
previous two weeks
– 4% of Seniors drinking alcohol on a daily basis
Alcoholism
• First thing it does is slow down our
inhibitions
– Can make a person giggly, relaxed, talkative
– Most think it is a stimulant, but is depressive
• Perceptions and sensations become
distorted
• Behavior can become obnoxious
Alcoholism
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Begin to stumble and weave
Speech becomes slurred
Reactions become sluggish
Can cause a person to become unconscious,
go into a coma, and death
Alcoholism
• Reaction to alcohol determined by how
rapidly alcohol enters the blood stream
• This is determined by a person’s body
weight, body chemistry, how much they
drink, how quickly they drink, what they
have eaten, and past experience with
drinking
Alcoholism
• Alcohol can produce psychological
dependence, tolerance, and addiction
Alcoholism
• Alcoholism can result from environment
and genetic factors
– Risk is 3 to 4 times greater if a family member
is an alcoholic
• Usually go through delirium tremens
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been
successful in helping some people
Alcoholism
• Antabuse-prescribed by a Dr.
– Become violently ill if they drink alcohol
• No cure for alcoholism
• Our society tends to encourage social
drinking and tends to tolerate the first stage
of alcoholism
Alcoholism
• One in four children in the U.S. is exposed
to family alcoholism or alcohol abuse
before age 18
• Alateen offers support for children of
alcoholics
• Song: Walk a Little Straighter Daddy