Did you inherit your addictive tendencies? Can you pass addictive tendencies on to your children, grandchildren, and beyond? Emerging studies in the field of epigenetics strongly indicate that you can.
What is the study of “Epigenetics”?
Epigenetics refers to the study of changes in gene expression that are not caused by alterations in the DNA sequence but rather by modifications to the chromatin structure or chemical tags on the DNA molecule.
How does the study of “epigenetics” relate to an addiction to shoplifting?
These changes can be influenced by various factors such as the environment, diet, and behavior, and can be passed down from one generation to the next. In the context of shoplifting addiction, epigenetic changes may occur in response to environmental or behavioral factors, such as the experience of fear or anxiety associated with shoplifting, which can affect the expression of genes involved in addiction and other related behaviors. These epigenetic changes may be transmitted to future generations and contribute to the development of addictive tendencies in offspring.
A Study on Rats:
In a study published in “Nature Neuroscience” in 2014, researchers trained male rats to associate a specific odor with a mild electric shock, causing them to freeze in fear when exposed to the odor alone. The training was carried out for four days, and on the fifth day, the rats were exposed to the odor alone, without the shock. The researchers measured the rats’ behavioral response, as well as changes in the epigenetic makeup of their sperm.
The results showed that the trained rats exhibited increased freezing behavior when exposed to the odor alone, compared to control rats that had not been trained. This suggested that the training had induced a fear response in the rats. Moreover, the training caused changes in the epigenetic makeup of the trained rats’ sperm, specifically in the methylation patterns of certain genes involved in learning and memory. These changes were then transmitted to the offspring of the trained rats, who exhibited increased freezing behavior when exposed to the same odor, compared to the offspring of control rats that had not been trained.
This study has implications for understanding addictive behavior in humans. For example, if you have a shoplifting addiction and experience fear or anxiety when you are unable to shoplift, you may learn to associate the act of shoplifting with the relief of that fear or anxiety. Over time, this association could become reinforced and lead to a compulsive behavior that is difficult to control.
Moreover, if the experience of fear or anxiety associated with shoplifting affects the epigenetic makeup of your sperm or egg cells, these changes could be passed down to your offspring and affect their behavior as well. This could explain why certain behaviors, such as addiction, seem to run in families.
A Human Study:
Another study published in the journal “Translational Psychiatry” in 2018 investigated the potential role of epigenetics in the transmission of drug addiction across generations. The study involved 46 men who were cocaine users and their male offspring who had not yet used drugs. In this study, researchers collected blood samples from both you and your father to analyze the DNA methylation patterns.
The results showed that the cocaine-using fathers had a different pattern of DNA methylation compared to the non-using fathers. Specifically, the cocaine users had reduced DNA methylation at certain genes involved in neuronal development and synaptic function. Additionally, you had similar DNA methylation patterns as your father, suggesting that these epigenetic changes had been inherited.
The researchers also found that the changes in DNA methylation were associated with an increased risk for drug use in the offspring. In particular, the offspring with the lowest levels of DNA methylation at these genes had a significantly higher risk for drug use compared to those with higher levels.
This study suggests that epigenetic changes in response to drug use can be transmitted across generations and may contribute to the development of addictive tendencies in offspring. These findings may have implications for understanding the transmission of other addictive behaviors, such as shoplifting addiction.
If you experience fear or anxiety when you are unable to shoplift due to your shoplifting addiction, you may learn to associate the act of shoplifting with the relief of that fear or anxiety. Over time, this association could become reinforced and lead to a compulsive behavior that is difficult to control.
Therefore, this study’s findings on epigenetic changes in cocaine users and their offspring may suggest that similar epigenetic changes could occur in individuals with a shoplifting addiction and be transmitted to future generations. These studies could be an indication of why you were drawn to start shoplifting, and also provide you with strong motivation to stop the generational cycle of addiction by learning to live life in a non-addictive way.