INTRODUCTION TO ADDICTION

Written By Rebecca Sylvia

  • Describing addiction: physical and psychological dependence, tolerance and withdrawal syndrome.

  • Risk factors in the development of addiction include genetic vulnerability, stress, personality, family influences and peers.

  • Explanations for nicotine addiction: brain neurochemistry, including the role of dopamine.

  • Explanations for nicotine addiction: learning theory as applied to smoking behaviour, including reference to cue reactivity.

  • Explanations for gambling addiction: learning theory as applied to gambling, including reference to partial and variable reinforcement;

  • Explanations for gambling addiction: cognitive theory as applied to gambling, including reference to cognitive bias.

  • Reducing addiction: drug therapy;

  • Reducing addiction: behavioural interventions, including aversion therapy and covert sensitisation

  • Reducing addiction: cognitive behaviour therapy.

  • The application of the following theories of behaviour change to addictive behaviour: the theory of planned behaviour

  • Prochaska’s six-stage model of behaviour change

Rebecca Sylvia

I am a Londoner with over 30 years of experience teaching psychology at A-Level, IB, and undergraduate levels. Throughout my career, I’ve taught in more than 40 establishments across the UK and internationally, including Spain, Lithuania, and Cyprus. My teaching has been consistently recognised for its high success rates, and I’ve also worked as a consultant in education, supporting institutions in delivering exceptional psychology programmes.

I’ve written various psychology materials and articles, focusing on making complex concepts accessible to students and educators. In addition to teaching, I’ve published peer-reviewed research in the field of eating disorders.

My career began after earning a degree in Psychology and a master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience. Over the years, I’ve combined my academic foundation with hands-on teaching and leadership roles, including serving as Head of Social Sciences.

Outside of my professional life, I have two children and enjoy a variety of interests, including skiing, hiking, playing backgammon, and podcasting. These pursuits keep me curious, active, and grounded—qualities I bring into my teaching and consultancy work. My personal and professional goals include inspiring curiosity about human behaviour, supporting educators, and helping students achieve their full potential.

https://psychstory.co.uk
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DESCRIBING ADDICTION