Behavioural Explanations for Smoking - Addiction

Question 1

What is the difference for teenagers during the initiation of smoking?

Answer 1

Thought nicotine can have a more positive effect for dopamine on teenage brains - more positive reinforcement

Question 2

How does Chen et al support the behavioural explanation for initiation?

Answer 2

Studied Lewis rats who were placed in operant chambers equipped with two levers, pressing one triggered an IV injection of nicotine
- when given prolonged access both genders rapidly acquired nicotine
= shows the positive reinforcement needed for initiation

Question 3

How does the behavioural explanation explain maintenance?

Answer 3

OC: negative reinforcement due to taking away stress levels caused by nicotine
CC: constant pairing of mild dopamine increase with everything to do with smoking. Smoking becomes a conditioned stimuli

Question 4

How does Lazev et al support the explanation for maintenance?

Answer 4

Smoking related cues tended to produce urges and cardiac responses in smokers
- reactivity stronger among light smokers = heavy smokers don’t need as many questions as they smoke a lot more
= shows how smoking can become a conditioned stimuli

Question 5

How does the behavioural explanation explain relapse?

Answer 5

Every time you come across a stimuli this may trigger the want to smoke
- association of certain things with smoking

Question 6

How does Lazev et al help to explain relapse?

Answer 6

CC: The cues found show how coming across a stimuli can cause the want/need to smoke

Question 7

How can behavioural explanations explain the initiation of smoking (OC)?

Answer 7

There is an increase in dopamine, adrenaline + nor adrenaline = some positive reinforcement when smoking