Anita Mercado Abnormal Psychology Assignment 2: Chapters 2 & 3 Scientists have been focusing on the impact of genes on behavior and the development of psychological disorders. This research has contributed to the understanding of many disorders, specifically substance-related disorders. In the case study of Ellis, a 30-year-old African American male, the seriousness of substance-related disorders is undeniable. Ellis has been crippled by his long history of heroin addiction that has rendered him completely helpless to it. When exploring this particular case, there are many factors that irrefutably contribute to the hardship of Ellis’s disorder, including environmental issues, and understanding these influences can help determine treatment and recovery. Before examining the environmental factors that greatly influence such disorders, it is important to examine the genetic influence that serves as an additional contribution to his high level of addiction. Firstly, scientists have examined the influence of genetics and how this contributes to personality development, cognitive ability, and wellbeing. Substance-related disorders have been studied and researchers have found that some people are genetically susceptible to drug abuse. A person’s use of drugs is primarily influenced by environmental factors, but the abuse and dependence of such drugs can be linked to genetic factors that make certain people more vulnerable. These genetic factors do not expose people to these substances, and no particular gene causes (or prevents) a person from developing an addiction. However, genetics can affect how a person will experience certain drugs and be a determinant on who will or will not become addicted to drugs. Research has also shown tha... ... middle of paper ... ...and behavioral coping skills Durand & Barlow, 2013). In conclusion, the presence of a substance-related disorder is a very serious problem and many who abuse substances (such as Ellis) find themselves physically, mentally, and financially drained from their addiction. People such as Ellis begin to obstruct their personal relationships, have difficulty being efficient in the workplace (if they are still employed) and they are overall consumed by this debilitating disorder. In Ellis’s case (and others similar) there is a probability that genetics have played a role in addiction and the correlation between the brain and the response to substances greatly influences the presence of such a disorder and the person's behavior while battling their addiction. Durand, M., & Barlow, D. (2013). Essentials of abnormal psychology. (6 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
McGowan-Anderson, L.J. (2006). Genetic Predisposition: Is the Human Organism Predisposed to Addictive Disorders? Journal of Addcitive Disorders. Retrieved from http://www.breining.edu.
The etiology of Harry Carey addiction seems incorporates two distinct theoretical models, e.g. disease and psychological models. Harry’s consumption and substance use patterns are indicative of someone who was born predisposed to substance use. This is evident from Harry’s admission that his mother “had a drug problem” furthermore; Harry’s acknowledge he does not know if she had an alcohol problem. Harry describes several incidences that he has had legal issues directly related to substance use. Harry’s several DUI are just some indicators that endorse the idea that Harry is minimizing his substance use and his substance use has progressively increased and diversified
Christopher Jones is an athletic 47 year old African American male who was a former player in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders. Over the course of 15 years a host of risk factors are associated with the onset of drug and alcohol addiction and substance abuse. There is a growing body of evidence pointing to the powerful influence of early adverse experiences, as well as drug use and abuse in parents. His drug addiction is a developmental disorder. Mr. Jones experiences adversity at key stages of development with addictions beginning during his adolescence, which appeared to be an especially vulnerable time for the onset of drug use and abuse and the transition to addiction.
An AA member is aware that alcoholism is a disease in which they cannot control without any help, they are powerless and it takes more than will power to submit to its supremacy. Even though there some people who believes that alcoholism is a personal choice rather than a disease. Recently new studies had proven the opposite of what alcoholism is in fact, it fits perfectly in the physical disease model found in the physical anatomy of the human body, according to the research. This is due to the advancement in modern science, such as neuroscience in which it has open doors in this field to better understand in how the disease model make perfect sense when dealing with an alcoholic addicted person. In accordance with Kevin T. McCauley, M. D. on his article called, “Is Addiction Really A Disease?” in which he declares, “the organ is the midbrain, the defect is a stress-induced hedonic (pleasure) dysregulation, and the symptoms are loss-of-control of drug use, craving, and persistent use of the drug despite negative consequences”. In short, McCauley has a good and simple explanation in how the brain chemistry reacts when induce its addictive substance, “There are very good brain chemistry reasons for the things addicts do. We can explain everything about addiction without having to resort to causal variables like ‘bad choices’ or ‘addict personality. ’” The
...t the person may also become addicted to these drugs. Ron would benefit not only from receiving inpatient treatment but also outpatient treatment. Ron would benefit from one on one and group therapy. Involving Ron and his family in AA counseling would help each to better deal with the chances of relapse. There are many psychological disorders that come with their own symptoms, causes and treatments. Schizophrenia, anorexia and drug abuse are three that were discussed in this paper. The benefit in understanding the role nature-nurture play in each disorder may be the key to what causes the disorders. Knowing the neural basis and brain structures involved in the processing of information may help psychologist understand effective treatments. Having an understanding of the bio psychological factors of each disorder may be the key to curing or preventing the disorder.
Genetics predispose an individual to having an increased chance of becoming codependent upon drugs or alcohol. Studies of twins and of families that are prone to addiction suggest that about 50% of the risk for drug addiction is genetically based (EBSCOhost). One well-characterized relationship between genes and alcoholism is the result of variation in the liver enzymes that metabolize alcohol (NIH). The result of the liver breaking down the alcohol faster is a higher tolerance. Individuals with a higher tolerance to alcohol, need to drink more than the average person in order to seek the same biological effect. When heavy drinkers suddenly stop or significantly reduce their alcohol consumption, the neurotransmitters prev...
Nurnberger, John. "Alcoholism Is a Genetic Disorder." Alcohol Abuse. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Unraveling the Genetics or Alcohol...
It has become one of the major social problems of our day, leaving a great number of families and communities within our country devastated and without hope of recuperation for any of their afflicted members and loved ones. Growing to become a big social challenge affecting all aspects of the American society, addiction rates have escalated to enormous proportions within the country as reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Addiction has been described as a chronic brain disorder,” resulting from adaptations in the brain that leads to changes in behavior”, according to Dr. Nora Volkow, who also assert that it can be treated (NIDA 2006).
Substance abuse is defined as the dependence on an addictive substance (University of Rochester Medical Center, 2014). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 8.7 percent of Americans older than 12 years of age are addicted to some type of addictive substance (Caron, 2009). Substance abuse doesn’t pertain to a certain person or group; it can range from any age, race, gender, or social class. Several people believe that substance abuse is easy to overcome, when in fact for many substance abusers it is a disease that is hard to cure which could lead into a greater issue, such as addiction. There are steps that someone abusing a substance will go through before becoming addic...
Alcohol use disorder can potentially be prevented if the proper testing and preventatives are taken when a person know that they are at risk for this illness. Scientists have proven that there are certain genetic factors along with environmental factors that play a role in alcohol use disorder. Wang explains, there are multiple genetic genes that play a role in alcohol use disorder like; ADH and ALDH2, along with genetic coding with genes α3, α5, and β4. There are also certain genetic factors that only play a part when there are environmental stress factors involved, early physiological stress, or multiple negative current life events. Parental drinking in the home along with sex also plays a role in drinking behaviors in a person. Schmidt states, “Women in the study appear to be affected more by their mothers’ drinking that their fathers; this effect was not seen in the men in this study.” With these given points, alcohol use disorder harms multiple people yearly either in death, loss of a job, hurting themselves or others, and even affects children. Home life and stress factors are the main environmental factors that revolve around alcohol use disorder and can easily be prevented with the proper care and
Creating my personal genogram was a valuable experience for me. By mapping out my family’s structure, and considering the dynamics of the relationships therein, I am able to see how each member of my immediate family took on specific roles and that addictions are present on both sides of my family. My paternal grandmother, Ginny, was an alcoholic and passed this trait to my father. My mother demonstrated signs of substance abuse through smoking and drinking, and both parents passed these to my sister and me: Whitney struggled with various addictions, the most severe of which was methamphetamine and I have had an ongoing struggle with smoking and past experiences with anorexia.
Abnormal psychology is the branch psychology that deals with the study of abnormal behavior in an attempt to describe, predict, and explain in order to change behaviors. There are four criteria used in the determination of what is considered to be abnormal they are deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger (Comer, 2012). Though deviance is hard to pinpoint as it is defined by an individual’s culture and society. The different ways in which to approach treatment for individuals.
Barlow, D., Durand, V., & Stewart, S. (2009). Abnormal psychology an integrative apporach. (2nd ed.). United States of America: Wadsworth
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2010), “Scientists estimate that genetic factors account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person’s vulnerability to addiction,” (p. 8). This statistic emphasizes how significant the genetic makeup of an individual is in relation to addictive substances (p. 8). There are additional trends that lead to enhanced levels of addiction.