Learning Theory Smoking Behavior

Question 1

Learning theory

Answer 1

One plausible explanation is that smoking is learnt through smoking behaviour

Question 2

Forming the addiction

Answer 2

Smoking behaviour could be explained through positive reinforcement

Induvidual is rewarded through feeling of euphoria when they inhale nicotine

Due to impact on dophamine system in brains reward pathway

Thus person will smoke again to get same reward of euphoria

Question 3

Maintaining the addiction

Answer 3

Negative reinforcement can explain why individual would continue to smoke

Cessation of nictoine leads to appearance of withdrawal syndrome

Which has unpleasant symptoms such as disturbed sleep , agitation and poor concentration

Symptoms make it difficult for smoker to abstain for long thus induvidual would continue smoking to avoid unpleasant symptoms

Question 4

What can nicotine addiction also be explained by ?

Answer 4

Classical conditioning as person may associate their nicotine addiction with pleasure

Question 5

Cue reactivity

Answer 5

Would argue environmental triggers (cues)

E.g certain location become associated with smoking which leads to continued smoking

Question 6

Smoking behaviour applied to learning theory Ao3 strength

Answer 6

RTS learning theory Carter and Tiffeny

Presented dependent and non dependent smokers and non smokers with smoking related Cues e.g lighters and ashtrays

Found dependent smokers reacted most strongly to cues e.g increased heart rate (arousal) and reported cravings to smoke

Supports cue reactivity because dependent smokers had learned association between smoking related stimuli and pleasurable effects of smoking

Which lead to cravings and smoking behaviour

Thus increasing validity of learning theory as applied to smoking addiction

Question 7

Smoking behaviour learning theory Ao3 limitation

Answer 7

Learning theory of smoking behaviour critiscised for environmental determinism

States individual is controlled by external factors reinforcements and associations that cuases behaviour

E.g if person is rewarded for smoking behaviour by feeling of euphoria they’ll inevitably smoke again to get same reward

Neglects the role of free will and choice e.g person may choose not to continue smoking for health reasons despite pleasurable reward

Learning theory cannot account for this

Thus may not fully be applied to explain smoking behaviour

Question 8

Learning theory of smoking behaviour Ao3 strength

Answer 8

Practical applications

Principles of the theory addiction is cuases by pleasant associations (cue reactivity)

Lead to behavioural interventions such as aversion therapy

Lead to behavioural interventions such as aversion therapy

Effective in treating smoking behaviour by encouraging patient to re associate nicotine with negative feelings e.g nausea rather than pleasure

Thus important part of applied psychology

Increasing credibility of learning theory as applied to smoking behaviour