In the Name of God

The Role of Arts and Mental Health in Prevention of Addiction

Author: Farbod Fadai, MD. Associate Professor of Psychiatry Address: University of Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. IRAN, Tehran, Evin, Daneshju Bulevard. Kudakiar Street. Department of Psychiatry.

:English Abstract

Addiction as a psychiatric problem shows the necessity of seeing the human being as a bio-psycho-socio-spritual unit. A person with special biological attributes, under the influence of specific psychological factors, in a special social environment will be inclined to addiction.

Various psychiatric and psychological schools have represented different explanations for addiction. Psychoanalysis stresses on the unconscious psychic factors that lead a person to an irresponsible, hedonistic, unrealistic and destructive behaviours. Behavioural approach is concentrated on learning in individual and societal levels, and the role of enforcing or extinguishing factors. Neuro-biological approach is dealing with the role of pain and pleasure centers and those neurotransmitters involved in adventurous and pleasure-seeking behaviours.

In Cognitive approach, the role of the received informations and peculiar

perception of a fellow and the styles of problem solving are important. Phenomenological approach believes that only with empathy we can discover the

reason why a given person is inclined to addiction and besides, only empathy can identify those obstacles in a personality self-actualization that lead to addiction.

The arts in its various levels, forms, and contents, as a humane characteristic and necessity which is bound to some innate attributes like religion, can affect the different aspects of the man as a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual unit and solve some of the problems that have led an honorable man to addiction. From the psychoanalytic point of view, the arts with the sublimation of unrestrained destructive, aggressive and sexual instincts, can canalize their energy in socially acceptable and favoured routes, such as formation of artistic works or enjoying from their perceptions, and so, preventing the addiction. The arts in all the levels of personality structure (id, ego, and super-ego) is rewarding for both the creator and the audience of artistic form.

According to behaviourism and social learning approach, the constructive and ethical behaviours can be encouraged by applying artistic media, and by putting weight on the preferred behaviours. By showing the catastrophic consequences of addiction, the vulnerable minds can be warned.

The arts can increase the human cognitive capacity and purify his or her perception. The arts can improve the problem solving styles, so a man can find a more constructive solutions, other than addiction, for his or her problems.

With respect to the undeniable role of the fine arts in diffusion and dissemination of empathy and sympathy between the people and encouraging friendship and collaboration between them, the arts can be applied in the frame of the phenomenological school for the prevention of addiction.

Finally, the true and premium arts can bring about such a gratification and joy in the higher centers of brain (by the neurotransmitters involved in reward and pleasure), that only the transcendental religious and spiritual experiences can go beyond. The man who becomes familiar with these experiences will never be inclined to the absurd and destructive intoxication by the addictive substances.

Zeitgeist

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