Classical Conditioning and Addiction
Classical Conditioning Addiction Addiction is a rampant problem in our society that has affected nearly everyone’s lives in one way or another. I am in recovery and am working as a counselor in the field and have struggled with answering the question why do addicts do what they do knowing the negative consequences awaiting them. Though one may say getting their lives and family back would be a good reinforcement for getting recovery, however it is what positive and negative affects are going on inside the person is what matters. Functionalism shows how we have adapted our lives to obtaining more dopamine. When we have sex or eat something good, we get a rush of dopamine, where now our elicit behaviors revolve around obtaining dopamine. Now what if I told you that doing a bag of heroin gets you 10x as much dopamine as eating your favorite food. Addicts have been classically conditioned to associate the use of a substance with immense pleasure and satisfaction and the consequ