Addiction - learning theory of nicotine addiction Flashcards
What does the learning theory of smoking addiction explain?
The learning theory explains smoking addiction in three phases: initiation (when people first start smoking), maintenance (when the habit becomes established), and relapse (when learned associations make it difficult to quit smoking despite efforts).
What does social learning theory suggest about how people start smoking?
Social learning theory suggests that young people begin smoking by observing social models (like parents or peers) who smoke. Vicarious reinforcement makes them expect positive outcomes from smoking, encouraging them to try it.
How does operant conditioning explain the initiation of smoking?
According to operant conditioning, smoking is reinforced because it provides immediate rewards (like the rush from nicotine). This positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of smoking becoming a habit, as the individual learns to associate smoking with pleasurable feelings.
What role does positive reinforcement play in the maintenance phase of smoking?
In the maintenance phase, smoking is maintained through positive reinforcement. Smokers learn that smoking improves their mood, and the pleasure it provides encourages them to continue the habit.
What is negative reinforcement in the context of smoking?
Negative reinforcement occurs when smokers use cigarettes to avoid withdrawal symptoms (such as irritability or anxiety). This relief from unpleasant feelings increases the likelihood of continuing to smoke to avoid further discomfort.
What is cue reactivity in smoking addiction?
Cue reactivity refers to the persistence of relapse urges long after withdrawal symptoms subside. People addicted to nicotine associate certain moods, situations, or environmental cues with the rewarding effects of smoking, which can trigger the desire to smoke again.
How does classical conditioning contribute to smoking addiction?
Classical conditioning explains how sensory stimuli (like the smell or sight of cigarette smoke) become associated with the rewarding effects of nicotine. Over time, these neutral stimuli (NS) become conditioned stimuli (CS), triggering a conditioned response (CR) even in the absence of nicotine.
What is the process of conditioning in smoking addiction?
Through repeated associations between nicotine and smoking cues (like the smell of cigarettes), these cues transform from a neutral stimulus (NS) to a conditioned stimulus (CS). The CS triggers the same pleasurable response (CR) associated with nicotine, even when nicotine is not present.
How do nicotine-related cues influence relapse after quitting smoking?
Nicotine-related cues (such as seeing a cigarette or being in smoking environments) act as conditioned stimuli that trigger cravings and can cause relapse by activating the brain’s reward system, even after the person has stopped smoking.
What research support is there for the learning theory explanation of addiction? (SLT)
Karcher and Finn found that adolescents were 1.88 times more likely to smoke if their parents smoked, but they were up to 8 times more likely to smoke if their close friends smoked. This highlights the stronger influence of peer smoking compared to parental smoking.
What research support is there for the learning theory explanation of addiction? (cue-reactivity)
Carter & Tiffany (1999) found that dependent smokers show a strong reaction to smoking-related cues (like lighters and cigarette packets), reporting high cravings and increased physiological arousal. This supports the idea that cues can trigger craving and relapse even without nicotine, supporting cue-reactivity theory. Secondary conditioning explains why smokers experience cravings in response to cues (like seeing a cigarette) that have been previously associated with nicotine use, even when no nicotine is present. This reinforces the addiction and the craving cycle.
What is a practical application of the learning theory explanation of nicotine addiction?
Aversion therapy is a practical application, where nicotine addiction is counter-conditioned by pairing smoking with an unpleasant stimulus (e.g., electric shock). Research by Smith (1988) showed 52% of participants remained abstinent after a year, compared to the usual 20-25% success rate of traditional quitting methods.
How does the learning theory explanation of nicotine addiction have economic implications?
Effective treatments like CET and aversion therapy reduce smoking-related habits and NHS spending by improving public health, reducing smoking-related diseases, and potentially saving lives. These treatments are based on conditioning principles and provide measurable benefits.
What is a limitation of the learning theory explanation of nicotine addiction?
The learning theory does not account for gender differences in nicotine addiction. Research by Lopez et al (1994) found that women tend to start smoking later than men and are more likely to smoke in stressful situations. Women also experience withdrawal effects sooner and struggle more with quitting. These findings suggest that gender-specific approaches may be useful in smoking cessation interventions. Therefore the explanation has a beta bias.
