HEALTH learning explanation for addiction to alcohol SLT (16 marks)

Question 1

A01 points for paragraph 1

Answer 1

1) one learning explanation for alcohol addiction is Social Learning Theory (SLT). This theory suggests that behaviour such as alcohol addiction may be learned through observation of others.
2) A teenager may observe a role model who is drinking alcohol and may identify with this role model. Identification with the role model is more likely if they are the same sex as the individual, a similar age or of higher status, for example a celebrity.

Question 2

A03 positive point and development point for paragraph 1

Answer 2

+ SUPPORTING EVIDENCE : MUNDT ET AL (2012)
Data from a survey found that adolescent’s friendship selection was influenced by similarity in alcohol consumption suggesting that friends are influential in shaping our drinking habits and alcohol use may be learned rather that due to genes such as DRD2.

FURTHERMORE, Mundt’s data was collected longitudinally over a year which allows for any changes in alcohol use to be monitored increasing the validity of the findings.

Question 3

A03 weakness point for paragraph 1

Answer 3

• REFUTING EVIDENCE : CONNOR ET AL (2002)
  Data from a clinical interview and alcohol dependence questionnaire found that adults with the A1 variant consumed more alcohol and had early onset problems related to alcohol therefore supporting the link between the A1 variant and increased alcohol consumption.

FURTHERMORE, data was collected using self-report and may be affected by socially desirable responses if participants feel embarrassed about their alcohol intake. This would lower the validity of the findings.

Question 4

A01 points for paragraph 2

Answer 4

3) A teenager will pay attention to the behaviour being modelled (in this case drinking alcohol) and will retain this information until they are later have a suitable opportunity to reproduce it.
4) The teenager’s motivation to reproduce the behaviour is likely to come from vicarious reinforcement (seeing the role model being reinforced for drinking alcohol) or from intrinsic motivation (alcohol makes us feel good).

Question 5

A03 strength for paragraph 2

Answer 5

+ USEFUL APPLICATION : CAMPAIGNS
The idea that individuals can learn the behaviour of drinking alcohol has led to health campaigns such as Drinkaware which discourage young people from drinking alcohol. The campaign aims to inform parents and other adults about the dangers of young people imitating adult role models who are consuming alcohol.

Question 6

A03 weakness for paragraph 2

Answer 6

• ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION : DRD2 GENE
  The DRD2 A1 variant explanation provides an alternative explanation for alcohol addiction which focuses on the idea that alcohol addiction is genetic. This genetic explanation may be viewed as having higher scientific credibility sue to being able to measure the presence or absence of the gene.

Question 7

A01 points for paragraph 3

Answer 7

5) A teenager will observe the role model (such as an older sibling) having a good time whilst drinking alcohol and receiving attention from others. This will indirectly reinforce the teenager, who will want to imitate drinking the alcohol to receive the same attention.
6) When presented with an opportunity to imitate the behaviour, for example whilst at a party, the teenager will drink alcohol. Continued alcohol use may come from intrinsic motivation whereby the teenager feels good each time they drink alcohol.

Question 8

A03 strength for paragraph 3

Answer 8

+ CREDIBILITY : FOCUSES ON OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOUR
SLT is based upon evidence from measuring outward, observable behaviours such as whether the teenager has imitated the behaviour of drinking alcohol. Such evidence is obtained using empirical methods therefore increasing the scientific credibility of the explanation for alcohol addiction.

Question 9

A03 weakness for paragraph 3

Answer 9

• CREDIBILITY : NOT GOOD FOR EXPLAINING CONTINUED USE
  Whilst SLT is useful when explaining why an individual will initially take drugs because of imitation and vicarious reinforcement, it is unable to adequately explain the continued use (maintenance) of alcohol. Once the individual has used alcohol, the biological explanation would be more plausible in explaining why the individual would continue to drink using physical dependency.

Question 10

A03 strength for the conclusion

Answer 10

+ HOLISTIC : COMBINES A NUMBER OF FACTORS
SLT encompasses elements from different approaches in psychology including cognitive processes such as retention and attention, behaviourist principles such as reinforcement and social factors such as the influence of others around us (peers, family etc). This theory considers that alcohol addiction is due to interactions with the environment and not simply because of their genes, it is therefore viewed as more holistic that other explanations for alcohol addiction.

Question 11

A03 weakness for conclusion

Answer 11

• ONLY FOCUSSES ON NURTURE
  SLT takes the nurture side of the debate because it argues that alcohol addiction is due to imitation of role models in their environment therefore taking one side of the debate to explain alcohol addiction, it fails to acknowledge the interaction between both nature and nurture in alcohol addiction.