2022-2024 Year 13 A-Level Psychology - Describing Addiction - Physical And Psychological Dependence
Addiction is a compulsive behavior or substance use that starts as pleasurable but leads to harmful consequences over time. It becomes a cycle that the person struggles to break. Psychological dependence is when someone feels they cannot cope with life without a substance, believing it’s essential for emotional or mental well-being.
What is addiction?
A disorder where a person consumes a substance or engages in behaviour
This starts as pleasurable but becomes compulsive with harmful consequences
Key Terms
What is addiction?
A disorder where a person consumes a substance or engages in behaviour
This starts as pleasurable but becomes compulsive with harmful consequenc...
What is psychological dependence?
Mental or emotional compulsion to keep a substance, they believe they can’t cope with work or life without it
When a person has a physical or psychological dependence on a drug or behaviour what can happen to the person?
Cravings and withdrawal syndrome
What is physical dependence?
A state of the body that occurs when withdrawal syndrome is produced from stopping the behaviour.
What is withdrawal syndrome?
The psychological and physical symptoms an individual experience when they no longer have the substance or engage in behaviour.
What symptoms are there in withdrawal?
Nausea, Aching, experiencing tremors
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What is addiction? | A disorder where a person consumes a substance or engages in behaviour |
What is psychological dependence? | Mental or emotional compulsion to keep a substance, they believe they can’t cope with work or life without it |
When a person has a physical or psychological dependence on a drug or behaviour what can happen to the person? | Cravings and withdrawal syndrome |
What is physical dependence? | A state of the body that occurs when withdrawal syndrome is produced from stopping the behaviour. |
What is withdrawal syndrome? | The psychological and physical symptoms an individual experience when they no longer have the substance or engage in behaviour. |
What symptoms are there in withdrawal? | Nausea, Aching, experiencing tremors |
The seriousness of withdrawal syndrome can be affected by …. give one example (A*/A give 3!!) | The substance/behaviour |
What is tolerance? | After a substance or behaviour has been used for a long period, the repeated exposure the response is reduced |
Finish the sentence. When tolerance occurs the individual will need … | greater doses to feel the same physical and psychological effects. |
What are three examples of tolerance? | Cellular Tolerance |
Which type of tolerance is being described below? “Brain neurons adapt in response to higher levels of a substance” | Cellular Tolerance |
Which type of tolerance is being described below? ” A person’s behaviour becomes less affected by substance” | Behavioural Tolerance |
Give an example of behavioural tolerance | Going to work and being able to some extent, do their job under the influence of drugs or alcohol. |
Explain what is meant by behavioural tolerance and give an example. | When a person’s behaviour becomes less affected by substance for example, going to work and being able to some extent, do their job under the influence of drugs or alcohol. |
Explain what is meant by cellular tolerance | Brain neurons adapt/change in response to higher levels of a substance |