Psych634 Wk 6 Discussion Reward Behavior Cycle

The reward-behavior cycle has been implicated in the onset of different addictive human behaviors. This cycle is influenced by different neurochemicals in the brain, including dopamine. Read “Pleasure Systems in the Brain” from this week’s University Library Resources. Respond to the following questions: • How does the brain’s reward-behavior cycle contribute to the development of various addictive disorders? Explain the biological and biochemical components (i.e., the release of dopamine) of this cycle. • How can the reward-behavior cycle lead to a “vicious cycle” in addiction, where individuals continue to engage in the addictive behavior despite negative consequences? How might this cycle be broken, and what roles do self-control and therapy play? Think of someone you know, someone in your community, or a celebrity to use as an example in your response.