Book contents
- Motivational Systems
- Motivational Systems
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Boxes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Models of Motivation
- 3 Needs, Drives, and Arousal
- 4 Incentive Motivation
- 5 Levels of Control
- 6 Wanting and Liking
- 7 Regulation and Control: From Homeostasis to Emotion Modulation
- 8 Emotions, Moods, and Affect – Their Link to Motivation
- 9 Feeding Motivation
- 10 The Motivation to Drink Water and Ingest Salts
- 11 Sexual Motivation
- 12 Exploratory Motivation
- 13 Fear, Avoidance, and Security
- 14 Aggression
- 15 Pain
- 16 Social Motivation: Belonging, Affiliation, and Attachment
- 17 Drugs and Addiction
- 18 Addictions to Things Other than Drugs
- 19 Summary and Integration
- Glossary
- References
- Index
17 - Drugs and Addiction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 June 2026
Book contents
- Motivational Systems
- Motivational Systems
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Boxes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Models of Motivation
- 3 Needs, Drives, and Arousal
- 4 Incentive Motivation
- 5 Levels of Control
- 6 Wanting and Liking
- 7 Regulation and Control: From Homeostasis to Emotion Modulation
- 8 Emotions, Moods, and Affect – Their Link to Motivation
- 9 Feeding Motivation
- 10 The Motivation to Drink Water and Ingest Salts
- 11 Sexual Motivation
- 12 Exploratory Motivation
- 13 Fear, Avoidance, and Security
- 14 Aggression
- 15 Pain
- 16 Social Motivation: Belonging, Affiliation, and Attachment
- 17 Drugs and Addiction
- 18 Addictions to Things Other than Drugs
- 19 Summary and Integration
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
Addiction represents conflict between (i) a recognition of a problem and/or (ii) engaging in an activity, while wishing not to engage. Theories of addiction are reviewed: opponent process theory, an adaptive orientation, incentive motivation theory, Wise and Bozarth’s neural model, the incentive sensitization theory and the negative affect model. The wanting part is based in the pathway VTA → NAcc. Sensitization is rooted in this pathway. There is overlap in brain regions excited by drug and erotic images. Orbitofrontal cortex and insula have a role in addiction. The chapter discusses the role of social context in drug-taking, and the rat park is described. The Robins’ study on Vietnam veterans is described. The final section is devoted to the development of drug addiction. In the case of humans, family instability is noted. Early adulthood is a particularly dangerous time for acquiring addictions.
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- Motivational SystemsA Biopsychological Introduction, pp. 342 - 363Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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