Personality Disorders and Drug Addiction

Lesson 5

Objectives

• Describe how personality disorders differ from other psychological disorders

• Explain how drug abuse is a psychological problem.

Bell Ringer

• Read exploring psychology p. 474.

Personality Disorders

• Maladaptive or inflexible ways of dealing with others and one’s environment– Can’t establish meaningful relationships– Includes those painfully shy, to those who are

pushy show-offs

Antisocial Personality

• A personality disorder characterized by irresponsibility, shallow emotions, and lack of conscience.– Disregard for others’ rights– Live for the moment- no plan, can’t wait– Feel no shame or guilt– Punishment is not a deterrent

Antisocial Personality

• Get away with it because they are intelligent and entertaining

• Hugh Johnson was a con man with this disorder- justified it this way

• “I never took more from a person than they could afford to lose and that he was only reducing the likelihood that other more dangerous criminals would force to achieve the same ends.”

Antisocial Personality

• May have inherited it from anti-social parents

• May have faulty nervous system

• Never learn to anticipate punishment

• Remain calm while committing antisocial acts

Drug Addiction

• Major psychological problem in U.S.• Psychological dependence- use of a drug to such

an extent that a person feels nervous and anxious without it

• Addiction-a pattern of drug abuse characterized by an overwhelming and compulsive desire to obtain and use the drug.– Drugged state becomes the normal state

Drug Addiction

• Once addicted, a person develops a tolerance for the drug– Physical adaptation to a drug so that a person

needs an increased amount in order to produce the original effect

• Have to increase amount to obtain same affects

Drug Addiction

• Withdrawal- the symptoms that occur after a person discontinues the use of a drug to which he or she has become addicted

Alcoholism

• Country’s most serious drug problem

• Often begins at an early age– 88% of all high school senior– 54% in the last month– 35% consumed five or more drinks in a row in

previous two weeks– 4% of Seniors drinking alcohol on a daily basis

Alcoholism

• First thing it does is slow down our inhibitions– Can make a person giggly, relaxed, talkative– Most think it is a stimulant, but is depressive

• Perceptions and sensations become distorted

• Behavior can become obnoxious

Alcoholism

• Begin to stumble and weave

• Speech becomes slurred

• Reactions become sluggish

• Can cause a person to become unconscious, go into a coma, and death

Alcoholism

• Reaction to alcohol determined by how rapidly alcohol enters the blood stream

• This is determined by a person’s body weight, body chemistry, how much they drink, how quickly they drink, what they have eaten, and past experience with drinking

Alcoholism

• Alcohol can produce psychological dependence, tolerance, and addiction

Alcoholism

• Alcoholism can result from environment and genetic factors– Risk is 3 to 4 times greater if a family member

is an alcoholic

• Usually go through delirium tremens

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been successful in helping some people

Alcoholism

• Antabuse-prescribed by a Dr.– Become violently ill if they drink alcohol

• No cure for alcoholism

• Our society tends to encourage social drinking and tends to tolerate the first stage of alcoholism

Alcoholism

• One in four children in the U.S. is exposed to family alcoholism or alcohol abuse before age 18

• Alateen offers support for children of alcoholics

• Song: Walk a Little Straighter Daddy