Over the last few weeks I have come to acquire a vast knowledge in regards to motivation. I have learned about its history and evolutionary theory, what prompts motivation, how it is reflected in different manners both when it comes to thinking and behavior. I have also learned that motivation can be fueled by external objects such as incentives and goals. However, what stuck with me the most was what I learned in regards to addictions and addictive behaviors. I already had the understanding that drugs were addictive but now gained the knowledge that the addictive behavior is compulsive and that is provides short term pleasure at the expense of more severe and long term negative consequences. As I am able to see this on a daily basis with …show more content…
I also found helpful that aside from the regular drugs that everyone always talks about that there are psychoactive drugs that we use on a regular basis and don’t think twice about it. For example, caffeine, alcohol, or cigarettes. Although, we hear negative things about these three drugs such as cigarettes causing cancer, alcohol being the cause of an accident or someone being arrested due to their intoxication, or the lack of caffeine causing headache, fatigue, or decreased energy, they are all still legal. On the other hand, there are the drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and hallucinogens that are just as addictive if not more but are illegal causing the individual to become an addict as well as having legal problems if caught with the drug. Gaining an understanding that the drug can become the entire focus in an addict’s life to the point where it interferes with other behaviors in their lives as well as causing other problems for them. I also was able to put into perspective how an addict goes through the different stages of drug addiction: craving, tolerance and withdrawal. What I really found helpful was the information that a person may have a genetic disposition to becoming an addict because of their ancestors, but not only that, since their upbringing may play a