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 consequences
become irrelevant. These consequences strengthen the addict’s desire and need
to continue using. Once an addict seeks treatment, they are flooded with
negative consequences both internally and externally. What once helped the
addict ignore their problems and relieve stress and anxiety has only suppressed
those feelings, making them explode all at once when they stop using. This
punisher comes at such a high level, the addict will usually go back to using
it. It is only through extinction that the addict can go about their life
without needing the action of using it to reinforce a feeling of satisfaction
or pleasure. The addict is solely focused on the preceding behavior and could
care less what negative consequences come after.
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