Chapter 7 – Rat Park
Summary
The Rat Park experiment was a test by Bruce Alexander in finding some sort of explanation about the nature of addiction. What the experiment revealed was that rats given the freedom to roam and be free and happy did not get addicted to a morphine-infused drink, while rats in a cage definitely did. While these findings were interesting, Slater saw contradictions to both sides. The conclusion was that there are too many variables involved in who does and who doesn’t get addicted. Body chemistry combined with free will are the main driving force.
Summary
The Rat Park experiment was a test by Bruce Alexander in finding some sort of explanation about the nature of addiction. What the experiment revealed was that rats given the freedom to roam and be free and happy did not get addicted to a morphine-infused drink, while rats in a cage definitely did. While these findings were interesting, Slater saw contradictions to both sides. The conclusion was that there are too many variables involved in who does and who doesn’t get addicted. Body chemistry combined with free will are the main driving force.
Discussion
I think free will and the ability to resist temptation play a major part in addictions. I have never been addicted to hard drugs, but let’s take pizza for instance. It’s definitely not healthy, but sometimes I get a powerful craving for it. It’s quite easy to sit at my computer and just ignore it. But it’s also just as easy to open the Domino’s website and place a 2 for 1 order for $9 using a coupon code. I can rationalize reasons for both choices in resisting and giving in, but it always comes down to my ability to resist that temptation. I will live without pizza, but sometimes it just hits the spot.
I think free will and the ability to resist temptation play a major part in addictions. I have never been addicted to hard drugs, but let’s take pizza for instance. It’s definitely not healthy, but sometimes I get a powerful craving for it. It’s quite easy to sit at my computer and just ignore it. But it’s also just as easy to open the Domino’s website and place a 2 for 1 order for $9 using a coupon code. I can rationalize reasons for both choices in resisting and giving in, but it always comes down to my ability to resist that temptation. I will live without pizza, but sometimes it just hits the spot.
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