Explanantions for Nicotine Addiction

Question 1

what is introduction of brain neurochemistry including role of dopamine?

Answer 1

• Internal (biological) explanation for nicotine addiction
  that relates to the chemicals inside bra🧠 that regulates psychological functioning
• It states that nicotine addiction is formed due to repeated activation of brains reward pathway

Question 2

Explain dopamine reward step 1

Answer 2

1. I smokes cigarette inhales nicotine reaches blood stream and activates nAChR in the VTA of brain in less than 10 seconds

Question 3

Explain dopamine reward pathway step 2

Answer 3

2. Dopamine released from VTA down melosimbic pathway to D2 receptors on (NAc) responsible for feeling of pleasure , euphoria and relaxation

Question 4

Explain dopamine reward pathway step 3

Answer 4

3. when dopamine hits NAc this triggers release of more dopamine from NAc down the mescortical pathway to PRE - FRONTAL CORTEX responsible for what we pay attention to and DM the person then makes the decision to smoke again

therefore explaining why people repeatedly smoke and become addicted to nicotine

Question 5

Give RTS brain neurochemistry and role of dopamine

Answer 5

P - Mc Evoy

E - studied smoking bh in ppl w sz who were taking (haloperidol)

E - Drug is dopamine antagonist by blocking by lowering level of DA in brain

ppl taking drug showed sig increase in smoking

L - Therefore supporting role of dompamine as expl to A to nicotine as patients sought nicotine in order to increase their level of D to experience euphoria

Question 6

CA to RTS Mc Voy

Answer 6

P - criticised by sample bias as it uses ppts only sz

E - may not be neurostypical and therefore diff to GF on low DA and smoking bh to target pop of smokers w out sz

L - Therefore limiting how far this study can be used to support role of dopamine

Question 7

What can brain neurochemistry be criticised for?

Answer 7

P - Biological reductionism

E - because theory reduces complex human bh of nicotine addiction down to dopamine levels within brain

E - neglects holistic apprch takes in account persons culture and social context would influence and explain I nic A

eg adolescents dev nic A to fit in than euphoria

L - lack val doesn’t allow us to understand bh in context

Question 8

What is strength for brain neurochemistry

Answer 8

P - prac apps

E - principles of theory nic A caused by high levels of dopamine and an activation of brains reward pathway led to treatment of NRT

E - effective as in reducing nic A by providing I w nic in a less harmful form (patch instead of a cigarette) slowly reducing dosage overtime thus reducing I tolerance

L - important in applied psych when helping treating nic A in real world

Question 9

What is intro for learning theory

Answer 9

one plausible explanation that smoking is a learnt bh thru operant conditioning

Question 10

How do we form an addiction LT?

Answer 10

• Smoking bh cud be explained by positive reinforcement
• I rewarded with feeling of euphoria when they inhale nicotine due to its impact on dopamine system in brains reward pathway I smokes again to get same reward of euphoria

Question 11

How do we maintain the Addiction LT?

Answer 11

• Negative Reinforcement can explain I continues to smoke
• cessation of nic (stopping smoking) leads to appearance of withdrawal symptoms has unpleasant symptoms such as disturbed sleep agitation and poor concentration
• make it diff for smoker to abstain for long period and I smoke again to avoid unpleasant symptoms

Question 12

How can nic A also be explained?

Answer 12

classical conditioning as a person may associate their nicotine addiction with pleasure

Question 13

Describe cue reactivity in terms of primary reinforcers

Answer 13

• pleasurable effect of smoking is known as primary reinforcer bc of its rewarding effect on DRS (euphoria) not learnt ❌

Question 14

Describe cue reactivity in terms of secondary reinforcers

Answer 14

• any other stimuli that is repeatedly present at same time as nicotine or just before eg lighter 👯‍♀️ 🔥 overtime become associated w pleasurable feeling
• stimuli = 2° reinforcers as taken on propeeties of 1° reinforcers (nicotine) and become rewarding in their own light

Question 15

what do 2° reiforcers act as?

Answer 15

• cues as their presence produces similir psychological cravings and psychological ( ⬆️ ❤️📈) reaction to the nicotine itself

this is cue reactivity

• reactions want to make person 🚬 again explains why some I relapse/maintain A

Question 16

Whats RTS for LT

Answer 16

P - RTS in particular cue reactivity Carter + Tiffany 💙

E - meta analysis 41 studies in cue reactivity

E - presented non-dependent, dependent and non-smokers w smoking cues eg ashtray lighter

self reported desire cravings was reported as well as ❤️📈 (arousal)

dependant smokers reacted more strongly w cues eg ⬆️❤️📈 and reported cravings to smoke

L - ✅ dependant smokers learnt 2° associations be 🚬 related stimuli and the pleasurable effects of smoking.😩

Question 17

What is LT criticised for?

Answer 17

P - env determinism 🌳

E - states that I controlled by associations + reinforcements that cause bh eg 🚬 to feel euphoria smoke again for same reward

E - negelcts role of free will and choice I has eg I stops smoking for health reasons despite pleadurable effects

L - LT cannot account for this may not be full expl of smoking bh

Question 18

Why can LT being deterministic be a good thing?

Answer 18

D - strength as there is a cause of bh so treatments can be developed such as aversion therapy

Question 19

Give a strength to LT

Answer 19

P - PRAC APPS

E - bc principles of the theory, that A is caused by pleasant associations (cue reactivity) has led to behavioural interventions such as aversion therapy and covert sensitisation.

E - This is effective in treating nicotine diction by encouraging a patient to re-associate nicotine with negative feelings for example, nausea, rather than a feeling of pleasure. 🚬 + 🤢

L - important part of applied psych as it helps treat nicotine addiction in 🌎