Dislocation Theory and the Globalization of Addiction
Today’s Agenda:
House Keeping
Lecture / Movie
The Dislocation Theory of Addiction:
Setting the Tone
Dislocation Theory
Bruce Alexander
Professor Emeritus of Psychology at SFU
Addictions result from failure to achieve the level of social acceptance,
competence, self-confidence and personal autonomy required of
individuals in the society in which they live.
Background
Addiction is an overwhelming involvement with any pursuit what so ever (including, but
not limited to, drugs or alcohol) that is harmful to the addicted person, to society or both.
We are still crying out for an explanation for addiction - and there yet remains no
consensus.
Our currents theories have not impacted the addiction problem... Thus the globalization of
addiction “continues”
Psychosocial Integration
We are disconnected from from inward and outward identity
This lack of psychosocial integration is
DISLOCATION
Dislocation
Also know as a “soul wound”
Poverty of Spirit
Psychosocial Integration
Interdependence
Sense of Identity
Oneness with nature
Connection to the “divine” / “spirit”
Wholeness
Worldly Soul
The Free Market... or Marketing our Doom?
Psychosocial Integration
In the past, psychosocial integration was achieved from within the community,
giving life to an individuated self and sense of freedom, but a “community self” as
well.
For example, at one time we had nuclear families, connection to dead
ancestors, connection to extended family, to villages of families.
These subgroups all grew from relatively stable and internally consistent
traditions
Today, our communities consist of “institutions”
Dislocation
Addiction
Dislocation
Dislocation is not eradicated through food, shelter, nor through the attainment of wealth.
But instead through a spiritual community to which one belongs.
Dislocation can have many causes:
Natural disasters (destroys whole communities)
Wars
Child abuse
Ostracization
Destroying economic basis for a community
Globalizing free-market society undermines psychosocial integration
Free market society: market where there is no economic intervention by the government
In free market economies, for example, people are expected to move to where jobs can be
found, and to adjust their work lives and cultural tastes to the demands of a global market.
People who cannot achieve psychosocial integration develop “substitute” lifestyles.
Substitute lifestyles entail excessive habits including—but not restricted to drug use, and
social relationships that are not sufficiently close, stable, or culturally acceptable.
People who can find no better way of achieving psychosocial integration cling to their
substitute lifestyles with a tenacity that is properly called “addiction”.
Free Market Some History
Globalising (cont.)
Although any person in any society can become dislocated, modern western societies
dislocate all their members to a greater or lesser degree because all members must
participate in “free markets”.
One in which controls labor, land, money and consumer goods.
Thus we take the role of individual economic actors, unencumbered by family and
friendship obligations, clan loyalties, community responsibilities, charitable feelings, the
values or their religion, ethnic group, or nation.
You Were Born into Bondage!
Free Market Society: How Far does the Rabbit Hole Go?
Established “free” market societies require the continuing presence of powerful control
systems.
Carefully engineered management, advertising, taxation, and mass media techniques keep
people buying, selling,working, borrowing, lending, and consuming at optimal rates.
Rabbit Hole (cont.)
This deliberately undermines the countervailing influences of new social structures that
spontaneously arise in modern families, offices, factories, etc.
Thus, opportunities to reestablish new forms of psychosocial integration are suppressed.
Addiction is Adaptive
People react to psychosocial disintegration because is it adaptive.
They attempt to at least have “some kind of life”
Adaptation doesn’t mean desirable - it becomes a “lesser evil”...
Buffering...
Persons against “unbearable feelings” of dislocation
Fragmentation of identity
Acculturation / Assimilation Stress
Dislocation Theory: Insufficient to Cause Addiction
But a move in the right direction
Flatly contradicts conventional wisdom
Worn out theories - time for paradigm shift
Paradigm shifts occur when former theories don’t resolve old questions.. We must then
begin to move onto new ones
Dislocation Theory: Boundaries
Does not address why one person becomes addicted to one substance and not another
Cannot account for why one dislocated person overcomes there handicaps while another
does not
But those who do become addicted in our free market society are only slightly different
than each other
Dislocation Theory & Combatting Addiction:Where Do We Begin?
Own the fact that current theories and etiological models of addiction are outdated
Open political discussion...
A realistic discussion must recognize that addiction is mass-produced in a free
market society, and that, therefore, society as well as individuals must change.
Rather than endlessly competing for funds by overstating their own achievements, those
who support each of the four pillars (i.e., prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and
policing) should apprise society of the limited extent of their accomplishments, thereby
showing that even the four pillars together cannot save the day.
Opening the Door
Where do we begin (cont.)
People need to belong within their society, not just trade in its markets.
Honest labour markets / laws
Abolishment of labor exploitation
Thus impose fair labor standards on a global level and prevent transnational corporations
from inducing local governments to rescind local labor, health, safety, and environmental
protections.
Social Change
Challenge futile policing practices
Allocation and spends funds more appropriately
Stop cuts in housing / Welfare / EI
Teach and education and our youth to care for one another at deeper level
Invest in social housing
Public services need to be more nurturing
Place full-time employment at the top of policy agendas