MIND, BODY AND HEALTH
M6D1: Friends Don’t Let Friends Text?
Part 1 Question 1. & Part 2 Question 2.
General Information:
Textbook:
Brehm, B. (2014). Psychology of Health and Fitness. Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis.
MODULE NOTES:
Module 6: Negative Health Behaviors
Introduction:
In this module, we will take a look at addiction and other negative health behaviors. We will examine the biological, social, cultural, and psychological risk factors for the development of addictions.
The Biopsychosocial Model of Negative Health Behaviors and Addiction helps us explore the many factors that are related to addiction. For example, biological factors can include genetic predisposition, psychological factors can include attention deficit disorder and coping skills, and social factors might include childhood home environment, as well as culture.
Module 6 Notes
Addiction & Health
In this module, we explore the causes and risk factors for addiction, and we take a look at some strategies for overcoming addictions and negative health behaviors.
Pleasure, Addiction, and Substance Dependence
Addiction is now viewed as behavioral disorder resulting from a combination of biology, psychology, social environment and culture variables. Brehm defines addiction as “the compulsive use of a substance or performance of an activity even though the person experiencing the addiction knows it is causing or is likely to cause harm” (2014, p. 371). No longer considered synonymous with physiological dependence on a substance, an Individuals can become addicted to work, the internet, exercise, and unhealthy relationships (Jahr. Addictive behavior:
Is repeated involvement despite substantial harm.
Leads to substantial harm.
Continues because it was, or is, pleasurable and/or valuable. (Horvath, et al, 2019, p 39)
Reward pathways are comprised of the anatomical structures and physiological reactions that are involved in experiencing pleasure. It is interesting to note that these pathways are activated by different stimuli depending on the person. For example, your friend may derive pleasure from drinking coffee, while you are turned off by the taste and smell of this drink.
Factors That Influence Risk of Developing Negative Health Behaviors
Preventing and Changing Negative Health Behaviors
Prevention is often seen as the most effective means for dealing with addictions in society. Health educators play a vital role in this area. I’m sure if you looked around your own community, and daily environments you will see many examples of efforts, effective and ineffective, being made through health education initiatives.
Behavior change programs take many forms. 12-step programs are one popular option to help with overcoming addictions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills training, and self-help programs can also be useful.
Behavior-Change Applications for Negative Health Behaviors
These applications vary based on the type of addiction. The textbook suggests helpful strategies for dealing with alcohol abuse, tobacco use, weight control, eating disorders, and excessive exercise.
Factors That Influence Risk of Developing Negative Health Behaviors
Biological
Genetic predisposition
Psychological response to substance or behavior
Adolescent age
Early exposure to addictive substances
Psychological
Attention deficit disorders
Mood disorders
PTSD
Less-effective coping skills
Hopelessness
Social/Environmental/Cultural
Access to substance or behavior
Childhood family and home environment
Social norms
Socioeconomic status
Social environment
Adverse childhood events
Module 6 Study Materials
Read Required
Textbook Chapter 11
Hartney, E. (2019) The Stages of Change Model of Overcoming Addiction. (Links to an external site.) Very Well Mind.
Jabr, F. (2019). Can You Really Be Addicted To Video Games? (attached). The New York Times Magazine, 37.
Read three of the following (your choice):
Berczik, K., Szab, A., Griffiths, M. D., Kurimay, T., Kun, B., Urbán, R., & Demetrovics, Z. (2012). Exercise Addiction: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Epidemiology, and Etiology (attached). Substance Use & Misuse, 47(4), 403-417.
Crews, F. T., & Boettiger, C. A. (2009). Impulsivity, frontal lobes and risk for addiction (attached). Pharmacology, Biochemistry, And Behavior, 93(3), 237-247.
High School Vape Culture Can Be Almost As Hard To Shake As Addiction, Teens Say (attached). (2019, October 14). All Things Considered.
Sharma, M., Khubchandani, J., & Nahar, V. K. (2017). Applying a new theory to smoking cessation: case of multi-theory model (MTM) for health behavior change (attached). Health promotion perspectives, 7(2), 102–105.
Valentish, J. (2015). Why addiction isn’t a disease but instead the result of ‘deep learning’. (Links to an external site.) National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre. University of New South Wales.
View Required
Films Media Group. (2014). How does media figure into the lives of kids?: American Academy of Pediatrics: Reaching teens. Films On Demand. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=103647&xtid=114559.
Ted Talk: Everything you think you knew about addiction is wrong. (Links to an external site.) [Video file, 14.37 minutes]
M6D1: Friends Don’t Let Friends Text?
INSTRUCTIONS:
Part 1: Based on your own life experience…
1. You notice that whenever you meet your friend for dinner, he spends more time texting others than talking to you. Is your friend addicted to texting, or does he just have a bad habit? Please explain your opinion.
Part 2: Based on what you learned this week, explore the following questions:
2. Discuss how your opinion of addiction changed/or did not change after reading/viewing the material in this module?