Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology of 97 is emotional dysregulation, an inability to control negative emotions in response to stressful life events, often caused by the borderline individuals themselves. Paranoid Personality- This personality disorder is characterized by extremely suspicious and distrustful behavior. However, it is not as delusional as often found in paranoid schizophrenia. Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse and Addiction- There are various biological and psycho-social factors that help to initiate substance abuse in an individual. Research has determined that environment and genetics can play huge roles in deciding susceptibility to addiction. The breakdown of environment and genetic factors shows that gender, ethnicity, and social class play a part in addiction development. Biological Influences- A variety of biological factors influence drug abuse and addiction including: family history, genetic predisposition, a preexisting psychiatric or personality disorder, or a medical disorder. It is widely believed among researchers that alcoholismmay be inherited. Research studies have shown that people coming from a family history of alcoholism are more likely to develop an alcohol addiction themselves. The same proves true with any other addiction such as drugs. Emotional and mental disorders have both been found to be underlying causes of addiction. Many of these are inherited, which proves how much biological and genetic makeup can influence the development of addiction. Cultural Influences- That old question "nature or nurture?" might be better rephrased "nature and nurture" because research shows that individual health is the result of dynamic interactions between genes and environmental conditions. Environmental influences, such as exposure to drugs or stress, can alter both gene expression and gene function. In some cases, these effects may persist throughout a person's life. Research suggests that genes can also influence how a person responds to his or her environment, placing some individuals at higher risk than others. Sociocultural beliefs can shape the approach to and behavior regarding substance use and abuse. Culture plays a central role in forming the expectations of individuals about potential problems they may face with drug use. Initiation into excessive substance use may occur during periods of rapid social change, often among cultural groups who have had little exposure to the substance and who have not developed protective normative behavior. Psychosis Dissociative Identity Disorder- Dissociative disorders involve a breakdown of normal personality integration, resulting in significant alterations in memory or identity. In Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called multiple personality disorder, two or more separate personalities coexist in the same person. DID is the most striking and widely publicized of the dissociative disorders. © 2015 Achieve Page 78