Outcome Expectancies: These are the cognitive beliefs an individual holds about the effects of a substance. If a person expects a drug to reduce social anxiety or improve performance, they are psychologically more predisposed to use it, regardless of the drug's actual pharmacological properties.
Self-Efficacy: This refers to an individual's belief in their ability to resist a substance or cope with stress without it. Low self-efficacy is a significant predictor of relapse, as the individual feels incapable of managing life's challenges without the 'crutch' of the addictive behavior.
Attentional Bias: Addicted individuals often develop a cognitive 'filter' that prioritizes drug-related stimuli over other environmental information. This biased attention makes it difficult to ignore triggers, as the brain is hyper-tuned to detect opportunities for substance use.
| Feature | Disease Model | Psychological Model |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Cause | Genetic predisposition and brain chemistry | Learned behavior and cognitive patterns |
| View of User | Patient with a chronic illness | Individual with maladaptive habits |
| Locus of Control | External (biological forces) | Internal (cognitive and behavioral choices) |
| Treatment Goal | Total abstinence and medical management | Behavioral change and cognitive restructuring |
Identify the Reinforcer: When analyzing a scenario, always determine if the individual is seeking a 'high' (positive) or avoiding 'pain/stress' (negative). Exams often test the ability to distinguish between these two operant processes.
Look for Cues: If a question mentions a specific location or person triggering a craving, the answer likely involves classical conditioning or cue reactivity.
Focus on Cognition: Remember that 'Psychological' doesn't just mean 'feelings.' It includes expectancies and self-efficacy. If a person thinks they can't cope, that is a cognitive psychological factor.
Avoid the 'Willpower' Trap: Psychological theories do not equate addiction to a lack of willpower; they describe it as a complex failure of self-regulation and the dominance of learned associations.
Misconception: Psychological means 'not real': Students often assume that if an addiction is psychological, it lacks physical components. In reality, psychological learning processes physically rewire the brain's reward circuitry.
Confusing Negative Reinforcement with Punishment: Negative reinforcement increases a behavior by removing something bad. Punishment decreases a behavior by adding something bad. Addiction is maintained by reinforcement, not punishment.
Over-simplification of Social Learning: Modeling is not just 'peer pressure.' It includes the subtle observation of how parents or media figures use substances to handle emotions.
