Theoretical_Models_and_Approaches.docx.pdf.pdf

THEORETICAL MODELS

Theoretical Models and Approaches

Hyemin Park

Liberty University

COUC698_A23

THEORETICAL MODELS

The moral model lies on the assumption that people who struggle with addiction will

have moral issues attributed by their personal characteristics that lack responsibility, self-

regulation or self-care, and impulsive tendency (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Addiction is

considered to be a moral failure while it underestimates biological or medical contributions to

addiction. This model emphasizes the moral choice defining addiction as a voluntary

behavior of engaging in substance abuse (Rogeberg, 2013).

Based on this assumption, the treatment intervention for addiction comes down to

correcting morally wrong behavior or increasing moral sense or moral responsibility on one’s

behavior (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Accepting this perspective of the moral model will lead

to the conclusion that the effective intervention to treat addiction is to change morally wrong

addiction to the chosen drugs. Moral characteristics of impulsivity, irresponsibility,

immaturity that one being not able to involve himself with appropriate self-care can be the

THEORETICAL MODELS

While the moral model points out the initial attributing factor as a moral choice that

becomes a transition to addiction from voluntary behavior (Rogeberg, 2013), biological

models stress the genetic factors that increase the possibilities of a person being addicted to

such substance. This genetic model indicates there are individuals who are more vulnerable to

substance abuse or any other forms of addiction compared to those who do not have that

genetic factor. The neurobiological model is another explanation as a part of the biological

model; it is more focusing on the neurological process of becoming addicted to such

substance rather than suggesting the initial attribution of involving in the abusive behavior

(Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020).

There are various genetic research that discovered some genetic marks that predispose

a person toward addictions (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). For example, inheritance of genetic

traits that could not produce enough enzyme within the body was found to be a plausible

factor that could increase craving for alcohol and tendency to become addicted when the

clients from being changed should be considered within counseling and psychotherapy.

Already formed neurotransmitter pathways prior to the substance as the target could be

reversed by the introduction of other drugs (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020), which should be

THEORETICAL MODELS

Aligning with the biological model, the disease model also addresses addiction as an

inherited disease that “chemically alters the body in such as way that the individual is

permanently ill at a genetic level” (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020, p.11) rather than of moral

failure or personality deficits. When the etiology of addiction is explained in terms of disease

and illness, there is no perfect cure for substance abuse (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020), but it is

considered as part of themselves that requires continuous care and management on the use of

drugs. Based on this model, it denies cognitive-behavioral aspects of reinforcement because

addiction from immoral behavior or weak character that decreases demanding feelings of

responsibility or guilt of being addicted (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020).

effects of defining addiction as a disease to help alcoholics; the disease model could promote

powerless feelings over disease, but admitting one is powerless over alcohol and that his or

THEORETICAL MODELS

attachment, behaviors, cognitions, learning processes, or psychic drives (Capuzzi & Stauffer,

2020). The cognitive-behavioral model brings up pleasure-seeking tendency and behavioral

reinforcement to be the motivation and maintenance of maladaptive behavior that leads to

addiction (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). The learning model also agrees with a cognitive-

behavioral model that substance abuse is learned as a negative coping skill within a

motivation to seek pleasure while withdrawing unpleasant symptoms (Capuzzi & Stauffer,

2020). The psychodynamic model also addresses addiction as an outcome of deeper

psychological deficiency, while the personality theory model links personality traits and

substance abuse or other types of addiction (Wanigaratne, 2006).

relapse prevention (Brunswig & ODonohue, 2002) which is an addiction treatment approach

based on the psychological model. The relapse prevention is an evidence-based addiction

treatment using components of the cognitive-behavioral model to approach addiction; it aims

The psychological model provides good explanations on the reasons why people

engage in abusive behavior and the maintenance of the behavior that results in addiction.

Addiction is perceived as a psychological phenomenon because of psychopathology or

unhealthy cognitive-behavioral pattern encoded in the brain due to the repeated misuse of

addiction. Underlying psychopathology, defense mechanism, and tendency to handle

THEORETICAL MODELS