Summary of Marc Lewis's The Biology of Desire

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

#1 There are three main categories of addiction: disease, choice, and self-medication. The disease model states that addiction is a brain disease that is caused by changes in specific brain systems, especially those that process rewards. The choice model emphasizes changes in thought processes.

#2 There are many models of addiction, and they all overlap to some degree. The disease model calls for treatment by experts, including medical experts and psychiatrists. The self-medication model stresses the need to protect children and adolescents from extreme psychosocial pressures and to diagnose and treat underlying developmental issues.

#3 The disease model of addiction is the front-runner among current attempts to define addiction. It is accepted almost everywhere, and most addicts have little choice but to go along with it.

#4 The disease model of addiction is that it is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Apr 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669381921

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Insights on Marc Lewis's The Biology of Desire

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

There are three main categories of addiction: disease, choice, and self-medication. The disease model states that addiction is a brain disease that is caused by changes in specific brain systems, especially those that process rewards. The choice model emphasizes changes in thought processes.

#2

There are many models of addiction, and they all overlap to some degree. The disease model calls for treatment by experts, including medical experts and psychiatrists. The self-medication model stresses the need to protect children and adolescents from extreme psychosocial pressures and to diagnose and treat underlying developmental issues.

#3

The disease model of addiction is the front-runner among current attempts to define addiction. It is accepted almost everywhere, and most addicts have little choice but to go along with it.

#4

The disease model of addiction is that it is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.

#5

The brain disease model is supported by two pillars that have proven difficult to crack. The first is the corpus of evidence that the brain really does change with addiction. The second is the control issue, which addicts do seem to have lost.

#6

While the disease model is an improvement over the centuries-old norm of denigrating addicts for their lack of willpower and moral decrepitude, it is still inaccurate and harmful to addicts themselves. It can undermine their self-image and self-esteem.

#7

The majority of the recovered addicts I’ve spoken to would rather think of themselves as free than cured or