Is addiction always a bad thing?

Week 6 – Discussion

The Pros and Cons of Addiction

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, be sure to read the required articles for this week.

Addictions come in many forms and almost always involve a complex three-way interaction between the person, the object of the addiction (e.g., drugs, gambling, chocolate), and the societal context of the addiction. This complex interaction raises a controversial social question: Is addiction always a bad thing? Although there is often a significant amount of social stigma attached to addictions, and popular media often focuses on the treatment and prevention of addiction, there may also be associated positive qualities of addictive substances and behaviors.

For your initial post, the class will be split into two groups. Please see below for your assigned topic group.

Initial post will be written on a specific substance that has addictive potential (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, ibogaine, marijuana, ayahuasca, MDMA) of your choice.

Begin your initial post by choosing either a substance or a behavior with addictive potential based on your assigned group. To create a meaningful and interesting discussion, it would behoove you to choose a substance or behavior that has not already been addressed in the discussion board. For this discussion, you must explain both the positive and negative potential of addiction to your chosen substance or behavior. Therefore, you must choose a substance or behavior that presents both positive and negative potential outcomes.

Research your substance or behavior providing at least two peer-reviewed resources to support any claims made. In your post, construct clear and concise arguments using evidence-based psychological concepts and theories to create a brief scenario or example of a situation in which your chosen addiction provides both positive and negative potential outcomes for a subject. Integrate concepts developed from different content domains to support your arguments. Evaluate and comment on the reliability and generalizability of the specific articles and research findings you have chosen to support your arguments. Explain how the APA’s Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct might be used to guide your decisions as a psychology professional if you were assigned to consult with the subject in the situation you have created.

Guided Response: Review several of your colleagues’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers from the group you were not assigned to for your initial post by 11:59 p.m. on Day 7 of the week. You are encouraged to post your required replies earlier in the week to promote more meaningful interactive discourse in this discussion.

Did your colleague present a plausible scenario or situation based on the chosen addictive substance or behavior? Were the arguments presented supported by the research findings offered by your colleague? What other research might you suggest that would further support or disprove the arguments presented? What professional resource or organization might you suggest that would provide further information and/or consultation on the specific topics raised in your colleague’s post? Does your colleague’s post appropriately reflect the guidelines presented in the APA Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct? Do you agree with the APA Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct in terms of how it suggests the situation should be handled? If so, why? If not, why not? Please provide specific examples.

Continue to monitor the discussion forum until 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST) on Day 7 of the week and respond to anyone who replies to your initial post.