Rat Park
Rat Park
Rat Park (/ræt pɑːrk/) is a series of studies into drug addiction conducted in the late 1970s and published between 1978 and 1981 by Canadian psychologist Bruce K. Alexander and his colleagues at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada.
Etymology
The term "Rat Park" is derived from the nature of the experiment itself. The rats were housed in a spacious and enriched environment, which was in stark contrast to the small, isolated cages that laboratory rats are typically kept in. This "park" for rats was designed to provide a more natural and stimulating environment, hence the name "Rat Park".
Experiment
The Rat Park experiment was designed to challenge the prevailing addiction model of the time, which stated that certain drugs, such as morphine, are inherently addictive. The researchers hypothesized that the environment plays a significant role in drug addiction. In the experiment, rats in "Rat Park" were given free access to morphine, in addition to food and water. The researchers found that the rats in "Rat Park" consumed less morphine than the rats in isolated cages, suggesting that a stimulating environment could reduce the propensity for drug addiction.
Related Terms
- Addiction: A brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences.
- Morphine: A pain medication of the opiate family which is found naturally in a number of plants and animals.
- Bruce K. Alexander: A psychologist and professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, known for his research on addiction.
- Simon Fraser University: A public research university in British Columbia, Canada.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rat Park
- Wikipedia's article - Rat Park
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