Explanations for Nicotine Addiction: Learning Theory

Question 1

What are the 3 phases that characterise nicotine addiction according to the Learning Theory?

Answer 1

1. Initiation
2. Maintenance
3. Relapse (cue reactivity)

Question 2

Explain Initiation.

Answer 2

• Observes role models smoking
• Vicarious reinforcement - expects positive consequences from smoking
• Classical conditioning - nicotine immediately rewarding, learned quick
• Feels sudden rush (10 secs peak level) - reinforces behaviour

Question 3

Explain Maintenance.

Answer 3

• Classical conditioning - not smoking leads to irritation (negative reinforcement), smoking leads to pleasure (positive R)
• Maintain habit to avoid withdrawal

Question 4

Explain Relapse (cue reactivity).

Answer 4

• Associations made by classical conditioning
• Associate situations/places with rewarding effects of nicotine
• These become smoking-related cues
• Nicotine(UCS) causes pleasure (UCR), situations(NS) become CS through repeated pairings