In the early to mid-20th century, excessive alcohol consumption and substance dependence were widely viewed as moral failings or deficits in self-control. Individuals were expected to simply exercise willpower to overcome their habits, and those who failed to do so faced social ostracism or criminal punishment.
By the late 20th century, the conceptualization shifted toward the 'brain disease model of addiction.' In modern diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5, Substance Use Disorder is categorized as a chronic relapsing brain disease. Neuroimaging studies show long-lasting changes in areas of the brain critical to judgment, decision-making, learning, memory, and behavior control, suggesting that neurochemical pathways drive compulsive drug-seeking behavior despite negative consequences.
Some critics argue that describing addiction entirely as a biological disease removes personal accountability and agency, making patients feel powerless to change. Conversely, advocates argue that recognizing the neurobiological determinism of addiction reduces stigma and encourages people to seek medical treatment rather than suffering in silence.
Describe the free will/determinism debate and explain how it can be applied to this article.
276 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Debates, covering Nature/nurture, Freewill/determinism, Reductionism/holism, Individual/situational explanations, Usefulness of research, Ethical considerations, Conducting socially sensitive research, and Psychology as a science. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.