Addiction (Peer Influences) Flashcards
What is Social Learning Theory?
It is the idea that behavior is learned through observation, imitation, and modeling, rather than just personal experiences.
What are the two types of conditioning that explain why people continue to take addictive substances?
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
What is classical conditioning in the context of addiction?
Classical conditioning involves associating the pleasant feeling gained from taking a substance with the stimuli linked to it.
What is operant conditioning in the context of addiction?
Operant conditioning explains that the consequences of a behavior can reinforce that behavior, making it more likely to continue.
What limitation does Social Learning Theory have regarding the initiation of addiction?
It doesn’t explain why the individual initiated the behavior in the first place.
Who first proposed Social Learning Theory and when?
Albert Bandura in 1977.
How does Social Learning Theory differ from behaviorist ideas of conditioning?
It includes the role of observation and modeling, emphasizing learning through others’ behaviors, not just direct experience.
What are the four key processes in Social Learning Theory?
Attention, Retention, Reproduction, and Motivation.
What is meant by ‘attention’ in Social Learning Theory?
The behavior to be imitated must be observed and paid attention to.
What does ‘retention’ mean in the context of Social Learning Theory?
The individual must remember the observed behavior in order to imitate it.
What is ‘reproduction’ in Social Learning Theory?
The individual must have the ability to physically reproduce the behavior they have observed.
What is ‘motivation’ in Social Learning Theory?
The individual must be motivated to repeat the behavior based on positive or negative reinforcement.
What factors increase the likelihood of imitation in Social Learning Theory?
Similarity to the model (same age, gender), power, status, friendliness, and likability.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
Reinforcement received indirectly by observing another person being rewarded for their behavior.
What is vicarious punishment?
Stopping a behavior after observing someone else being punished for it.
How do perceived social norms influence addiction?
Addiction behaviors are shaped by cultural and subcultural norms, with overestimations of behaviors and approval from others reinforcing addiction.
What are descriptive norms?
Descriptive norms refer to how much others engage in a particular behavior, as perceived by an individual.
What are injunctive norms?
Injunctive norms are what individuals perceive as others’ approval or disapproval of a behavior.
What did Borsari and Carey (2001) find about social norms and addiction?
People often overestimate how much others engage in addictive behaviors and approve of them, reinforcing their own behaviors.
What did Perkins and Berkowitz (1986) find in their study on alcohol use among students?
Many students overestimated how acceptable intoxication was in their peer group.
What evidence supports Social Learning Theory regarding addiction?
Studies show peer attitudes strongly influence addiction, such as the connection between peer drug use and adolescent drug use.
What did Simon-Morton et al. (2010) find in their review of smoking and peers?
Most studies showed a positive correlation between peer influence and smoking behavior.
How do ‘best friends’ influence addictive behaviors?
‘Best friends’ have the strongest influence on an individual’s behavior, including addiction.
What did Smith (2012) find in rat studies regarding cocaine use?
Rats were more likely to self-administer cocaine when they were with other rats that had access to cocaine.
