Reference no: EM133584432

Assignment:

For this assignment, I would like you to watch the following very brief (~5 minutes) video:

In this video, you will see a cartoon bird that continues to eat a golden nugget. Some people have noted that the bird's behavior in this cartoon mimics the addiction/compulsive drug use process. What I would like you to do is to think about how each of the 3 biopsychological theories we will discuss in class (Opponent Process Theory, Hedonic Dysregulation Theory, Incentive Sensitization Theory) is depicted by the behavior and outcomes demonstrated by the bird in this video. In this writing assignment, you are to apply two of the theories to the bird's behavior. Specifically, you are to write on 1) your choice of either the Opponent Process Theory or the Hedonic Dysregulation Theory, and 2) the Incentive Sensitization Theory. The purpose of this assignment is to force you to think about and work within these models, as they are some of the most difficult concepts this semester. To be clear, everyone must write on the Incentive Sensitization Theory, and otherwise you have your choice between Opponent Process Theory and Hedonic Dysregulation Theory.

In your paper, you should 1) explain how each theory works to explain compulsive drug use, and 2) specifically apply that theory to the bird's behavior in the video.

Please note that every aspect of each theory will not be depicted in this video. It is your job to first comprehensively explain the theory, and then to describe the aspects of the theory depicted in the bird's behavior. It is fine if you feel like you need to speculate a bit, so long as you're appropriately applying it to the theory.