Theoretical Analysis of Addictive Behavior - Literature review Example

Theoretical Analysis on Addictive Behavior Presented Theoretical Analysis on Addictive Behavior In most cases, people have negative trends of behaviors that define their lives. These behavioral trends are portrayed unwillingly, or sometimes at a subconscious level. This is because; though the victim may be willing to leave such negative behaviors, some of which may have grievous effects to the culprit and the victim results, there are powerful convulsions that attach the individual to these behaviors making any withdrawal difficult or near to impossible. These behaviors are thus explained to be addictive and compulsive; they have to be dealt with at a psychological level with an elaborate treatment program to facilitate withdrawal and effective change of behaviors. Addictive and compulsive behaviors in most cases may lead to negative social trends as individuals crave fulfilling the strong urge resulting from the addiction. This article aims at reviewing the various addictive and compulsive behavioral theories, how several treatment programs are affected to correct these behaviors, as well as the trends in research related to addictive and compulsive behaviors. The fact that sexual behaviors can develop into an addiction is a new research observation that has been only studied in the recent past. Giugliano (2003) noted that research on sexual addiction and sex addicts started to appear in research studies starting from the 1980s, with Carness (1983) having obtained the best research findings on this topic and named the sexual disorder behavior as sexual addiction for the first time. However, the different cultural orientations may have different implications regarding sexual behavior meaning and understanding; though current research studies have gone deeper to understand what may constitute sex addiction better (Giugliano, 2003). Therefore, as the problem in the field of research, only a few theories have been formulated. One of the theories investigating sex addiction is the attachment theory. The theory according to Giugliano (2003) has been popular among researchers, though its application to sexual addiction is limited. The theorists according to Giugliano thus view sexual addiction as a way of coffering temporal reprieve for insecurity, anxiety, and depression for people who did not experience parental attachment; which is necessary in developing secure relationships. The resulting behavior thus leads one to peer-attachments and commitment to monogamous attachment problems (Bradshaw, 1988 in Giugliano, 2003). Likewise, the trauma theory views sexual addiction as an aspect of post traumatic sexual disorder, and dissociate disorder for children who were victimized when young (Giugliano, 2003). The treatment for this addiction as of currently depends on the knowledge and experience of respective behaviorist practitioners (Giugliano, 2003); as the theory has been new, no holistic treatment approach has been advanced. Alcohol addiction is another form of addiction that results to gross alcohol abuse with related effects of such abuse being enormous. Alcohol addiction is an area that has attracted massive research with many theories trying to explain the problem in details. Heesty & Sheeby (2005) explain one of the alcohol addiction theories to be the American disease model theory. Their theory views alcoholism as a progressive and irreversible condition that is characterized by loss of control over one’s drinking habits. Heesty & Sheeby further noted that the problem has no cure, but can only be arrested by total abstinence of the victim from alcohol. The denial of alcoholism by victims further aggravates the situation; unless the alcoholics are strongly confronted and accept their situation, they cannot be treated from this addiction, which mainly enjoys humane treatment (Heesty & Sheeby, 2005). The public health model is a theory that has attracted numerous studies as it explains alcoholism as an interaction between three factors; the agent being ethanol, the host being the sociological and psychological behaviors influencing such drinking behaviors, and the environment relating to the political, social, cultural and economic variables that affect alcohol abuse and its effects (Heesty & Sheeby, 2005). This theory appreciates the fact that individuals are different, and as these factors are variables, treatment is thus based on a specific case and there is no universal treatment approach to the problem. The newest form of addiction theory is the sweetness addition, which is linked to good tasting foods and eatables. Noting that addition involves compulsive and regular use of a substance that is of significant threat to social, economic, and physical health; needing, craving and, wanting as opposed to just liking are words that have been recently used to explain the uncontrollable addictive behaviors particularly in foodstuffs (Berridge 1996 in Drewnoski & Bellisle, 2007). Recent research particularly starting from 2000 has recognized sweet foods and high fat foods to be similar to drugs of abuse; obesity has been described as a result of addiction. Drewnoski & Bellisle (2007) explain food addition as being associated with intolerance, increasing withdrawal symptoms, and strong carvings following absence of the food of choice. Drewnoski & Bellisle define Obesity as increasing preferences for energy containing foods with sugars and fats. The continued consumption of sweet and foods with high fat concentration leads to neurochemical reactions in the brain, which are responsible for feeding and rewards according to the current research (Levine et al, 2003). These brain changes are responsible for food addiction. This problem can only be treated through proper eating habits and regulation of foods with high fat and sugar contents to remap brain regions responsible for rewards and feeding (Drewnoski & Bellisle, 2007). Buying addiction is another addictive behavior that has gained shape in the recent past. The theory of compulsive buying was first mentioned in 1900’s, and was observed to be similar to the impulsive disorders such as Kleptomania, extreme collection and pyromania; by 1915, Oniomania was described as the impulsive drive to buying, which resulted in accumulation of large debts (O’Guinn & Faber, 2005). Currently, compulsive buying as an addiction is defined as the repetitive, chronic purchasing caused by negative feelings, and which results in short-term gratification ,but causes no harm in the individual and others (O’Guinn & Faber, 2005).This shouldn’t be confused with impulsive buying, which as O’Guinn & Faber define is generated externally through a reaction related to a specific environment or item. Compulsive buying is more about the strong urge to buy, but does not relate to the specific product bought, as is eth case with impulsive buying. Studies have found a relationship between improvement in mood aimed at reducing negative mood starters, or increasing positive moods. To treat compulsive buying, O’Guinn & Faber (2005) suggest more focus on location of rewards and complements in the society; the changing social dynamics impact on the feelings of loneliness, depressions, and alienation, all of which may lead to compulsive buying to evoke good feelings. Domestic violence is recognized as an addiction to power and control by many family members, resulting to the use of violence to ensure this control is maintained. This trend leads to violence addiction, where the individual results into the use of force to ensure they have control and power in family setting (Johnson, 2011). Theories on violence addiction were initiated by the battered women’s movement in the U.S in the early 70s, mainly seeking reasons why men battered women in a psychopathology basis (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, MAHR, 2003). However, a good number of studies tried to prove the theory that individuals who abuse their partners had varying mental illnesses, which could only be cured through psychiatric treatment (MAHR, 2003). However recent research studies found these individuals’ profiles not to correspond to individuals who were ill, thereby rejecting this theory. The power and control wheel theory narrates on the various forms of tactics employed by an abuser to maintain their control (MAHR, 2003). This theory is based on the assumption that the purpose of violence particularly domestic violence is to exert control and power over the woman. Therefore, a boy who witnesses such an abuse as a child has a higher possibility of being an abuser, or due to the use of drugs. However, these circumstances are not the main cause of the violence (MAHR, 2003).The barter will however use tactics learned to enhance submissiveness of his partner in the future. An example of this violence is the intimate Partner violence, IPV. The feminist perspective on nature of intimate partner violence (IPV) was formed after more than 30 years of detailed research on domestic violence. The theory was developed by the feminist perspective in sociology (Johnson, 2011). There are various forms of feminist perspective on IPV. The most serious and common form of IPV does not involve coercion of a party, but occurs in cases where conflicts degenerate into aggression, which later becomes violent. The Domestic abuse Intervention project (DAIP) explains the treatment of this violence to be woman empowerment and sensitization of the society not to view domestic violence as a family matter, or normal but a gross human right that is punishable. Campaigns to encourage women empowerment to a man equal; and not a subordinate has been suggested as one way to change the society’s perception of domestic violence. Group theories on addiction try to explain why individuals portray behaviors at a subconscious level, in that addiction refers to strong craving of satisfying a particular need, for gratification only. Theories of addiction have in the recent past attracted more attention with research studies coming up with more theories to explain addiction to various stimuli. Addiction to alcohol, sexual addiction, food addiction, buying addiction, as well as violence addiction as discussed are but a few types of group addiction theories that have been covered by extensive research, with food and buying addiction having attracted interest in the recent past. Therefore, the study of these theories lead to better understanding of an individual’s addictive behaviors, and how these individuals can be treated from these addictive behaviors. References Drewnowski A., & Bellisle F., (2007). Is Sweetness Addictive? Nutrition Bulletin, 32(1), 52-60. Giugliano, J.R., (2003). A Psychoanalytic overview of Excessive Sexual Behavior and Addiction, Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, 10, 275-290. Johnson, B., (2011). Psychoanalytic Treatment of Psychological Addition to Alcohol (Alcohol Abuse), Frontier Psychology, 2: 362 Levine M..P., & Troiden R.R.,(1988). The Myth of Sexual Compulsivity. Journal of Sex Research, 25, 347-363. Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (2003), Theories of Violence, Domestic Violence http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/svaw/domestic/link/theories.htm O’Guinn, T., C., & Faber, R.J., (2005). Compulsive Buying Review and Reflection in Handbook of Consumer Psychology, Curtis P. H., Herr, P., & Kardes, F., NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006.  Reid K. Hester, Ph.D. and Nancy Sheeby, M.A. CHAPTER 1: The Grand Unification Theory of Alcohol Abuse: Its Time to Stop Fighting Each Other and Start Working Together in Engs, Ruth C. [Ed.]. Controversies in the Additions Field. Read More