Drug addiction is a phenomenon that has increased significantly in contemporary society and has led to many teenagers being dependent on the use of hard drugs such as meth, cocaine, and opioids. The film Beautiful Boy (2018) is a biographical drama that focuses on the life of the teenager Nic and his drug-using tendencies. He goes missing, and when he returns, it is evident that he has been using after rehab, he relapses and goes back to the street to use crystal meth, and while on campus, he begins using heroin because it is challenging to find meth in college. Constantly, he suffers an overdose and is relocated to Los Angeles to attend rehab and live with his mother. Nonetheless, in San Francisco, he meets with Lauren and relapses. Nonetheless, he achieves sobriety for eight years due to family support. Therefore, based on the plot of the film Beautiful Boy (2018), it is examined that there is the realization of the behavioral models of addiction and also the presence of the Social Learning and Social Cognitive theory of Psychology concerning drug addiction based on the perspective provided by Dr. Gabor Mate’s book “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts.”
The Social Learning and Social Cognitive theories of Psychology concerning drug addiction are the psychological view that cross-examines the use of drugs and how it correlates with human dependence. It is based on a brain reward system that causes the abuser to be motivated to use and have the inability to control the behavior and poor decision-making (Ramsey et al., 2019). The two concepts and theories are examined to be dominant in how Nic has become a user of meth, heroin, and other street drugs. Additionally, there are psychological factors that emanate from the social surroundings which influence drug addiction, and they vary from anxiety issues, peer pressure which is dominant in the youthful years, emotional distress, the availability of environmental stressing factors, the possibility of feeling depressed, and the resultant action of the drug to the user’s feelings. For instance, in the case of Nic in the film Beautiful Boy (2018), it is examined that peer pressure in his youthful years and the resultant action of the drug to the user’s feelings are the primary factors that have influenced his drug addiction. He is from a conducive environment, and his parents have provided a stable environment for him to co-exist in as his father, although separated from Nic’s mother, is not abusive and is supportive.
First, based on the Social Learning theory, it is examined that there is the analogy of the consequence and reinforcement, developed through observation, attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation (Khushk et al., 2023), which influences the psychological perspective in all humans. It is essential to comprehend that the psychological aspect of humans affects the acquisition and production of drug addiction behavior. Concerning the aspect of consequence in psychology, it is not a punishment if the behavior of substance abuse happens regularly, as in the case of Nic, who often relapses back into dependence on street drugs when he lacks what he is accustomed to; crystal meth finds an alternative; heroine. In his case, the stimulus, i.e., peer pressure and the resultant action of the drug to his feelings, are examined to reinforce his behavior because he continues to abuse drugs more frequently. Therefore, in theoretical analysis of social psychology, he is an agent responsible for shaping his self-regulation and behavior per the environment (De la Fuente et al., 2022) because he has established a consequence and reinforcement mechanism which facilitates him being an agent susceptible to drug use.
Secondly, the Social Cognitive Theory of Psychology highlights that drug addicts such as Nic can be cross-examined through their behaviors and attitudes. Nic develops positive expectancies towards drug use, especially when his diary, found by his father, is filled with a “colorful” description of his growing addictions by the use of worrying words and draws cartoons too. The tenet of value formation in the social cognitive psychology theory examines the humanistic personal experiences concerning the culture the human exists in, and the values are reinforced through life experiences (DeRobertis., 2021). In Nic’s case, he is examined to hold drugs of high value because of the euphoric experiences they have given him. More so, there is the tenet of self-schema development where the cognitive residual-ness of an individual concerning the social environment. In the case of Nic, he constantly escapes home and goes to live on the streets, a social environment where drugs are easily accessible. Because of social cognition, he develops a schema or tendency to escape home and the urge to go away from his family to an environment where he can co-exist with other drug users.
Concerning drug addiction, based on the perspective provided by Dr. Gabor Mate’s book “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts,” there are the neurobiological roots of addiction that are examined. Addictive behaviors arise in our brains because the parts of governance facilitate incentive, motivation, and the capacity to feel and receive love; hence, the brain circuits do not develop when a drug abuser provides his brain with a non-nurturing environment (Mate., 2010). The use of drugs, as in the example of Nic, highlights that the crucial systems in the brain that help with the psychological aspect of incentive and motivation to quit drugs and the capacity to feel and receive love from his father have failed. Hence, it is realized that in Nic’s example of being a drug abuser, his addiction has been facilitated by failed brain human development, and there is the relief or escape that he is attaining through crystal meth and heroin. However, despite drug addiction being a “fix” that offers temporary pleasure and relief, in the long term, it is detrimental due to the negative consequences realized because of over-dependency, which affects users psychologically, emotionally, socially, and physically.
Therefore, through the Social Learning and Social Cognitive theories of Psychology and the perspective provided by Dr. Gabor Mate’s book “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts” concerning drug addiction, one can comprehend why some people are dependent on hard drugs and often relapse when taken for rehabilitation. The social aspect of humanity is very significant when developing certain detrimental behaviors, as the drugs are used as either a relief or an escape. The brain reward system causes the abuser to be motivated to use and have the inability to control the behavior or inherent attitude and humanistic personal experiences in respect to the culture the human exists in, towards the substances available in the streets. Nonetheless, developing positive people’s behavior and personal characteristics and facilitating a positive and conducive environment can significantly minimize drug abuse in contemporary society. Drug addiction is a menace that must be contained so that future generations can be safeguarded from the social evil facilitated through observation, attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.
References:
Dr. Gabor Mate. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction. January 5, 2010
Ramey, T., & Regier, P. S. (2019). Cognitive impairment in substance use disorders. CNS spectrums, 24(1), 102-113.
Khushk, A., Dacholfany, M. I., Sonjaya, D. A. B., & Aman, N. (2023). Social Learning Theory in Clinical Setting: Connectivism, Constructivism, and Role Modeling Approach. Health Economics and Management Review, 3, 40-50.
De la Fuente, J., Martínez-Vicente, J. M., Santos, F. H., Sander, P., Fadda, S., Karagiannopoulou, A., … & Kauffman, D. F. (2022). Advances on self-regulation models: A new research agenda through the SR vs ER behavior theory in different psychology contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 861493.
DeRobertis, E. M. (2021). The humanistic revolution in psychology: Its inaugural vision. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 61(1), 8–32.
write