ASSESSMENT 2 Addiction Overview Write a 2–3-page assessment in which you address the topics of addictions and mental heath disorders by responding to a series of questions. Addiction is not a new issue in our society. The impact on the addicted person's life and that of his or her family differs dependent on the nature of the addiction, social norms, and laws. For example drunk driving only became a concern once moving vehicles became the norm. When reviewing the nature of addiction, the types of addiction, and the level of addiction, you will find it is a most complicated issue. Show More By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria: • Competency 1: Use information technology and tools to identify information in the domain of biological psychology. ▪ Discuss the physiological mechanisms that make people prone to addiction. ▪ Describe which mental disorders are commonly paired with some type of addiction. • Competency 2: Employ critical and creative thinking to evaluate problems, conflicts, and unresolved issues in the study of biological psychology. ▪ Discuss addictions common in today's society. • Competency 4: Assess the important theories, paradigms, research findings, and conclusions in biological psychology. ▪ Discuss the mental disorders that are commonly seen in today's society. • Competency 5: Apply knowledge of theory and research in the study of biological psychology to inform personal behavior and values, understand social policy, and develop professional goals and plans. ▪ Describe the connection between addiction and mental disorders. • Competency 6: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats. ▪  Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional. ▪  Use APA style and format. Context When dealing with addiction, the central hypothesis is that behavioral and cognition impairment caused by drug addiction may be due to the changes in the brain and the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the neuron. The physical change of the brain (usually referred to as neurodegeneration) makes some addictions lifelong. In addition, current scientific discoveries on the role of genes in addiction continues to further our understanding of heredity and environmental influences on learning and cognition behaviors. Show More Reward and Reinforcer Two key terms that demonstrate the mechanisms of drug addiction are reward and reinforcer . Reward refers to the positive effect an object or condition has on the user such as drugs, food, TEMPLATE_PSYC-FP4310_00003: 2015-07-10 15:13:02.656454 sexual contact, and warmth. A reinforcer is any object or event that increases the probability of the response that precedes it. Schizophrenia The term schizophrenia was coined in 1911 by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler from the com.

1. ASSESSMENT 2
Addiction
Overview
Write a 2–3-page assessment in which you address the topics of
addictions and mental heath disorders by responding to a series
of questions.
Addiction is not a new issue in our society. The impact on the
addicted person's life and that of his or her family differs
dependent on the nature of the addiction, social norms, and
laws. For example drunk driving only became a concern once
moving vehicles became the norm. When reviewing the nature
of addiction, the types of addiction, and the level of addiction,
you will find it is a most complicated issue.
Show More
By successfully completing this assessment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assessment criteria:
•
Competency 1: Use information technology and tools to identify
information in the domain of biological psychology.
▪
Discuss the physiological mechanisms that make people prone
to addiction.
▪
Describe which mental disorders are commonly paired with
some type of addiction.
•
Competency 2: Employ critical and creative thinking to evaluate
problems, conflicts, and unresolved issues in the study of

2. biological psychology.
▪
Discuss addictions common in today's society.
•
Competency 4: Assess the important theories, paradigms,
research findings, and conclusions in biological psychology.
▪
Discuss the mental disorders that are commonly seen in today's
society.
•
Competency 5: Apply knowledge of theory and research in the
study of biological psychology to inform personal behavior and
values, understand social policy, and develop professional goals
and plans.
▪
Describe the connection between addiction and mental
disorders.
•
Competency 6: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
▪
Write coherently to support a central idea with correct
grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a

3. psychology professional.
▪
Use APA style and format.
Context
When dealing with addiction, the central hypothesis is that
behavioral and cognition impairment caused by drug addiction
may be due to the changes in the brain and the imbalance of
neurotransmitters in the neuron. The physical change of the
brain (usually referred to as neurodegeneration) makes some
addictions lifelong.
In addition, current scientific discoveries on the role of genes in
addiction continues to further our understanding of heredity and
environmental influences on learning and cognition behaviors.
Show More
Reward and Reinforcer
Two key terms that demonstrate the mechanisms of drug
addiction are reward and reinforcer . Reward refers to the
positive effect an object or condition has on the user such as
drugs, food,
TEMPLATE_PSYC-FP4310_00003: 2015-07-10
15:13:02.656454
sexual contact, and warmth. A reinforcer is any object or event
that increases the probability of the response that precedes it.
Schizophrenia

4. The term schizophrenia was coined in 1911 by the Swiss
psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler from the combination of two Greek
words meaning "split mind." The term refers to the distortion of
thought and emotion that are "split off" from reality.
Schizophrenia is a disabling disorder characterized by
perceptual, emotional, and intellectual deficits, loss of contact
with reality, and inability to function in life. An estimated 3
million Americans will develop schizophrenia during their
lifetime. About 100,000 patients take up 20 percent of
psychiatric beds in the United States. Schizophrenia is more
common in males, while other disorders, such as depression, are
more common in females.
Questions To Consider
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider
the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a
work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the
business community.
•
Why are some addictions more socially acceptable than other
addictions?
•
Do you see mental disorders and addictions general and
constant across all cultures, or are addictions and mental
disorders more culturally based?
Resources
•
Suggested Resources
The following optional resources are provided to support you in
completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For

5. additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and
Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your
courseroom.
Capella Multimedia
Click the links provided below to view the following
multimedia pieces:
•
Addiction and Dependence Pathways
|
Transcript
. •
The Reward Pathway
|
Transcript
.
•
The Biological Sleep Clock
|
Transcript
.
Show More
Library Resources
The following e-books or articles from the Capella University
Library are linked directly in this course:
•
Edwards, G. (2012).
100 years ago in addiction science

6. . Addiction , 107 (8), 1530–1531. doi:10.1111/ j.1360-
0443.2011.03712.x
•
Ardakani, A., Seghatoleslam, T., Habil, H., Jameei, F., &
Rashid, R. (2013).
A pilot study of prevalence of psychiatric disorder among drug-
dependent patients: A report from an addiction centre in
Malaysia
. International Medical Journal , 20 (5), 537–541.
•
Unger, A., Starzer, B., & Fischer, G. (2012).
Addiction is a psychiatric disorder – What have we learned from
history?
Addiction , 107 (6), 1043–1044. doi:10.1111/j.1360-
0443.2012.03786.x
•
Marmorstein, N. R., Iacono, W. G., & McGue, M. (2012).
Associations between substance use disorders and major
depression in parents and late adolescent-emerging adult
offspring: An adoption study
. Addiction , 107 (11), 1965–1973. doi:10.1111/j.1360-
0443.2012.03934.x
•
Smith, P. H., Homish, G. G., Giovino, G. A., & Kozlowski, L.
T. (2014).
Cigarette smoking and mental illness: A study of nicotine
withdrawal
. American Journal of Public Health , 104 (2), e127-e133.

7. doi:10.2105/ AJPH.2013.301502
•
Bellamy, C. D., Rowe, M., Benedict, P., & Davidson, L. (2012).
Giving back and getting something back: The role of mutual-aid
groups for individuals in recovery from incarceration, addiction,
and mental illness
. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery , 7 , 223–236.
doi:10.1080/1556035X.2012.705703
•
Molina, B. G., Walther, C. P., Cheong, J., Pedersen, S. L.,
Gnagy, E. M., & Pelham, W. E., Jr. (2014).
Heavy alcohol use in early adulthood as a function of childhood
ADHD: Developmentally specific mediation by social
impairment and delinquency
. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology , 22 (2), 110–
121. doi:10.1037/ a0035656
•
Fjerkenstad, J. (2012).
In my opinion: Treatment that mirrors the dark world
. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity , 19 , 156–160.
doi:10.1080/10720162.2012.665292
•

8. Ziedonis, D. M., & Kolodziej, M. E. (2012).
Innovative interventions for treating tobacco addiction among
persons with co-occurring mental illness and addiction: New
approaches to improve outcomes
. Journal of Dual Diagnosis , 8 (2), 85–88.
doi:10.1080/15504263.2012.672159
•
Sprenkle, D. H. (2012).
Intervention research in couple and family therapy: A
methodological and substantive review and an introduction to
the special issue
. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy , 38 (1), 3–29.
doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00271.x
•
Rantala, V., & Sulkunen, P. (2012).
Is pathological gambling just a big problem or also an
addiction?
Addiction Research and Theory , 20 (1), 1–10.
doi:10.3109/16066359.2011.552819
•
Zweben, J. E., & Ashbrook, S. (2012).
Mutual-help groups for people with co-occurring disorders
. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery , 7 , 202–222.
doi:10.1080/1556035X.2012.705700
•
Benningfield, M. M., Dietrich, M. S., Jones, H. E., Kaltenbach,
K., Heil, S. H., Stine, S. M.,...Martin, P. R. (2012).

9. Opioid dependence during pregnancy: Relationships of anxiety
and depression symptoms to treatment
outcomes
[Supplement]. Addiction , 107 , 74–82. doi:10.1111/j.1360-
0443.2012.04041.x
•
Agrawal, A., Narayanan, G., & Oltmanns, T. F. (2013).
Personality pathology and alcohol dependence at
midlife in a community sample
. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment , 4
(1), 55–61.
doi:10.1037/a0030224
•
Hartman, L. I., Ho, V., Arbour, S., Hambley, J. M., & Lawson,
P. (2012).
Sexual addiction and substance
addiction: Comparing sexual addiction treatment outcomes
among clients with and without comorbid
substance use disorders
. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity , 19 , 284–309.
doi:10.1080/10720162.2012.735515
•
Mistler, L. A., Brunette, M. F., Ferron, J. C., & Ziedonis, D. M.
(2012).

10. Shared decision making and behavioral
support interventions for people with severe mental illness and
tobacco dependence
. Journal of Dual
Diagnosis , 8 (2), 99–103. doi:10.1080/15504263.2012.671093
•
Schlosser, A. V., & Hoffer, L. D. (2012).
The psychotropic self/imaginary: Subjectivity and
psychopharmaceutical use among heroin users with co-occurring
mental illness
. Culture, Medicine and
Psychiatry , 36 (1), 26–50. doi:10.1007/s11013-011-9244-9
•
Lembke, A. (2012).
Time to abandon the self-medication hypothesis in patients with
psychiatric disorders
. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse , 38 (6),
524–529. doi:10.3109/00952990.2012.694532
•
Lundquist, R. S., Seward, G., Byatt, N., Tonelli, M. E., &
Kolodziej, M. E. (2012).
Using a multidisciplinary
approach for pregnant women with nicotine dependence and co-
occurring disorders

11. . Journal of Dual Diagnosis , 8 (2), 158–167.
doi:10.1080/15504263.2012.671119
Course Library Guide
A Capella University library guide has been created specifically
for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the
resources in the
PSYC-FP4310 – Biological Psychology Library Guide
to help direct your research.
Internet Resources
Access the following resources by clicking the links provided.
Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the
following links have been either granted or deemed appropriate
for educational use at the time of course publication.
•
Russell, G., & Treasure, J. (2012).
Bulimia nervosa – In 100 words
. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 201 , 19. Retrieved from
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/201/1/19.2.full
•
National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Club drugs
. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/club-
drugs
▪
This NIDA Web site focuses on ecstasy (MDMA) and other
drugs associated with club culture. There is a link
to an excellent slide presentation on the neurobiology of ecstasy

12. as well as trends and statistics on drug use by young people.
Bookstore Resources
The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and
assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted
otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the
Capella University Bookstore
. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course
ID with the specific –FP (FlexPath) course designation.
• Garrett, B. (2015). Brain & behavior: An introduction to
biological psychology (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
▪
Chapter 5, "Drugs, Addiction, and Reward," explores what
happens to the brain during addiction.
▪
Chapter 7, "The Biology of Sex and Gender," the author
discusses the biological determination of sex.
TEMPLATE_PSYC-FP4310_00003: 2015-07-10
15:13:02.656454
▪
Chapter 14, "Psychological Disorders," covers how heredity and
environment interact to produce psychological disorders.
Assessment Instructions
In 2–3-pages, address the following questions. Use the Capella
library to research the material and support your answers. The
following questions are the required headings; do not
incorporate the questions into the content of the answers.
1.
What are some of the addictions that are recognized in our

13. society today? Discuss drugs and alcohol as well as other
addictions people struggle with.
2.
What are physiological mechanisms to addiction that makes it
more likely in one person versus another person?
3.
What is the connection between addiction and mental disorders?
Explain.
4.
What are some mental disorders that are commonly seen in
today's society?
5.
Are any of these mental disorders commonly paired with some
type of addiction?
6.
Do any of these addictions or mental disorders seem to be more
prevalent in one gender or the other? Explain.
Additional Requirements
•
Written Communication: Written communication should be free
of errors that detract from the overall message.
•
APA Formatting: Resources and citations should be formatted
according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
•

14. Font and Font Size: Times New Roman, 12-point font, and
double spaced. Use Microsoft Word to complete the
assessment.
•
Length: Write a minimum of 2 pages, excluding the title page
and reference page (150–300 words per question).
Addiction Scoring Guide
View Scoring Guide
Use the scoring guide to enhance your learning.
How to use the scoring guide
ADDICTION SCORING GUIDE GRADING RUBRIC
Criteria
Non-performance
Basic
Proficient
Distinguished
Criteria
Discuss the physiological mechanisms that make people prone
to addiction.
Non performance
Does not discuss the physiological mechanisms that make
people prone to addiction.
Basic
Discusses physiological mechanisms in general.
Proficient

15. Discusses the physiological mechanisms that make people prone
to addiction.
Distinguished
Analyzes the physiological mechanisms that make people prone
to addiction.
Criteria
Describe which mental disorders are commonly paired with
some type of addiction.
Non performance
Does not describe which mental disorders are commonly paired
with some type of addiction.
Basic
Describes mental disorders but does not connect them to
addiction.
Proficient
Describes which mental disorders are commonly paired with
some type of addiction.
Distinguished
Analyzes which mental disorders are commonly paired with
some type of addiction.
Criteria
Discuss addictions common in today's society.
Non performance
Does not discuss addictions common in today's society.
Basic
Lists addictions common in today's society.
Proficient
Discusses addictions common in today's society.
Distinguished
Analyzes addictions common in today's society.
Criteria
Discuss the mental disorders that are commonly seen in today's
society.
Non performance
Does not discuss the mental disorders that are commonly seen in
today's society.

16. Basic
Lists mental disorders that are commonly seen in today's
society.
Proficient
Discusses the mental disorders that are commonly seen in
today's society
Distinguished
Evaluates the mental disorders that are commonly seen in
today's society.
Criteria
Describe the connection between addiction and mental
disorders.
Non performance
Does not describe the connection between addiction and mental
disorders.
Basic
Describes addiction and mental disorders but does not make a
connection.
Proficient
Describes the connection between addiction and mental
disorders.
Distinguished
Evaluates the connection between addiction and mental
disorders.
Criteria
Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar,
usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional.
Non performance
Writing does not support a central idea. Does not use correct
grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology
professional.
Basic
Writing supports an idea but is inconsistent and contains major
errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Proficient

17. Writing coherently supports a central idea with few errors of
grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology
professional.
Distinguished
Writing is coherent, using evidence to support a central idea
with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a
psychology professional.
Criteria
Use APA style and format.
Non performance
Does not use APA format and style.
Basic
Uses APA format and style but inconsistently and with errors.
Proficient
Uses APA format and style consistently and with few errors.
Distinguished
Uses correct APA format and style consistently and with no
errors.