Question

Compare and contrast physical dependence theories of addiction and positive incentive theories of addiction. Which one explain addiction better and why?

Answer 1

In physical dependence theory addicts quite often come back to drug taking after they have been discharged from healing facility. The disappointment of this treatment approach isn't amazing in the light of two fact about drug taking: (1) some exceedingly addictive drugs produce little withdrawal trouble (e.g., cocaine), (2) the example of drug taking in numerous addicts normally includes cycles of binges and detoxification. With Current physical theory of dependence there are two issues: (1) a large number of the conditional impacts evoked by drug taking situations are similar to the impacts of the drug, even in the absence of the drug; (2) addicts and experimental animals frequently discover tranquilize related cues rewarding, even without the drug. The failings of physical-dependence theory have loaned support to positive incentive theory; according to positive incentive theory, most addicts take drugs to acquire their pleasurable impacts instead of to get away from their aversive eventual outcomes. Robinson and Berridge (1993) have recommended that the desire of the pleasurable impacts of drugs may become sensitized in addicts; a key purpose of incentive sensitization theory is that addicts don't get more joy from the drug, it is the anticipated pleasure that motivates their behavior.