What causes addiction?
Explaining addiction: its characteristics, the influence of genes, and the learning theory of addiction (classical and operant conditioning), including Young (2007) on internet addiction.
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Psychology Topic 3, covering addiction: its characteristics, the influence of genes, and the learning theory of addiction (conditioning), with reference to Young (2007).
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What this dot point is asking
Edexcel wants you to describe addiction and two explanations: the influence of genes and the learning theory (classical and operant conditioning). You should also know Young (2007) on internet (behavioural) addiction, and be able to evaluate the explanations, recognising that addiction usually results from several factors together.
What is addiction?
Its characteristics include dependence (a strong need to keep using), tolerance (needing more to get the same effect), withdrawal (unpleasant symptoms when stopping), loss of control over the behaviour, and continuing despite harm to health, work or relationships. Addiction can be to a substance (physical or psychological dependence) or to a behaviour (a behavioural addiction such as gambling or internet use).
The influence of genes
The learning theory of addiction
The learning theory says addiction is learned through conditioning rather than being purely biological.
- Classical conditioning
- A neutral cue (such as a place, time or object associated with the substance) becomes linked to the substance through repeated pairing, so the cue alone triggers a craving. This is why people often relapse when they return to environments linked to their addiction.
- Operant conditioning
- The addictive behaviour is reinforced by its consequences. Positive reinforcement: it produces a pleasant feeling (a high or a win), which strengthens the behaviour. Negative reinforcement: it removes something unpleasant, such as stress or withdrawal symptoms, which also strengthens it. Because the reward is repeated, the behaviour becomes a strong habit.
- Young (2007)
- Kimberly Young applied addiction ideas to internet use, arguing that excessive use can become a genuine behavioural addiction with features such as loss of control, preoccupation and using the internet to escape problems. Young developed assessment criteria and a cognitive behavioural treatment, supporting the view that addiction is not limited to substances.
- Evaluation
- Strength of learning theory: it explains how addiction is maintained (reinforcement) and why cues trigger relapse, and it leads to treatments that target conditioning. Weakness: it may underplay biology, since genes and brain chemistry also matter, so the best account combines learning and biological factors.
Try this
Q1. Name two characteristics of addiction. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, or continuing despite harm.
Q2. In classical conditioning, what triggers a craving? [1 mark]
- Cue. A cue (such as a place or object) that has become linked to the substance.
Q3. Explain one strength of the learning theory of addiction. [2 marks]
- Cue. It explains how reinforcement maintains addiction and why cues trigger relapse, leading to useful treatments.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 20184 marksExplain how operant conditioning can lead to addiction. (Paper 1)Show worked answer →
A 4-mark Explain item rewards the use of reinforcement to explain how an addiction is learned and maintained.
Operant conditioning says behaviour is shaped by its consequences. An addictive behaviour (such as gambling or using a substance) is positively reinforced when it produces a pleasant feeling (a reward, like a high or a win), making the person more likely to repeat it. It can also be negatively reinforced when it removes something unpleasant, such as relieving stress or withdrawal symptoms. Because the reward is repeated, the behaviour is strengthened and becomes a habit, leading to addiction.
Markers reward positive reinforcement (a pleasant reward strengthens the behaviour) and negative reinforcement (removing an unpleasant state, such as withdrawal), explained as the cause of repeated, strengthened behaviour.
Edexcel 20213 marksDescribe how the study by Young (2007) relates to addiction. (Paper 1)Show worked answer →
A 3-mark Describe item rewards an accurate account of Young's work on internet (behavioural) addiction.
Young (2007) studied internet addiction, arguing that excessive internet use can become a genuine behavioural addiction with features like other addictions, such as loss of control, preoccupation and using it to escape problems. Young developed criteria and treatment (using a cognitive behavioural approach) for internet addiction, supporting the idea that addiction is not limited to substances but can apply to behaviours.
Markers reward the focus on internet addiction as a behavioural addiction, the recognition of addiction-like features, and the point that Young proposed assessment and treatment for it.
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Sources & how we know this
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Psychology (1PS0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2017)