The learning approach to gambling and smoking

Question 1

what is an addiction

Answer 1

a mental disorder whereby the individual loses their control over a particular behaviour.

Question 2

what are the 3 theories behind the models of addiction approach?

Answer 2

operant conditioning
classical conditioning
social learning theory

Question 3

what is operant conditioning

Answer 3

using positive and negative reinforcement to modify behaviour

Question 4

what is classical conditoning

Answer 4

a learned association between 2 stimuli paired/

Question 5

general
initiation
Operant conditioning-positive reinforcement
how does this cause an addiction?

Answer 5

People are rewarded and so repeat the behaviour. Smoking and gambling can seem rewarding because of the release of dopamine that comes from a positive reinforcer which creates feelings of happiness. These act as positive reinforcers and make the individual want to experience the reward again. Researchers argue gamblers playing slot machines may become addicted because of the social rewards as well as financial and psychological.

Question 6

general
initiation
operant conditioning
evaluation-why would someone begin in the first place?

Answer 6

This theory doesnt explain why someone would begin to smoke or gamble before the first release of dopamine. It also doesn’t explain why some individuals take part in this first action of behaviour and others dont. Suggesting the biological explanation is more effective. It also doesnt explain all forms of addictive behaviour e.g. sports betting which dont have an immediate reward.

Question 7

general
maintenance
operant conditioning- negative reinforcement

Answer 7

when the drug is discontinued, withdrawal symptoms appear. These are unpleasant and any reduction in these effects would constitute negative reinforcement. and so the behaviour is maintained to stop the withdrawal symptoms.

Question 8

general
classical conditioning
initiation-the role of secondary reinforcers

Answer 8

Stimuli that occur at the same time as a learned stimulus may become secondary reinforcers through association. E.g.noises and senses of an arcade are associated with gambling and can become a conditioned response.

Question 9

general
classical conditioning
maintenance- the threat of withdrawal symptoms

Answer 9

the drug effect is an unconditioned stimulus. The body responds with an unconditioned response as it tries to restore equilibrium. Any stimulus that precedes a drug dose becomes a conditioned stimulus leading to a conditioned response in the anticipation of the effects of the drug.

Question 10

general
classical conditioning
how does relapse occur

Answer 10

conditioned responses that occur in the absence of the drug put the body in a state of disequilibrium which the individual experiences as withdrawal symptoms.

Question 11

general
classical conditioning
evaluation
research support with soldiers

Answer 11

while at war these men smoked, when they returned home,because of the conditioned response being broken down by the different environment and cues, they were able to stop smoking.

Question 12

general
social learning theory
how does addictive behaviour begin this way?

Answer 12

Addiction begins through operant conditioning as the user learns about the consequences of the drug taking. Any positive or negative consequences will be observe through others and could lead to repeated use. Or could lead to a decrease in the behaviour being repeated. Individuals begin to recognise that different classes of drugs warrant different effects and therefore expect different expectations of the outcome.

Question 13

general
social learning theory
how is an addiction maintained this way

Answer 13

drugs encourage people to both approach and avoid it creating an approach-avoidance conflict where motivation fluctuates between wanting to use the drug and wanting to stop. Addicts have also learned to associate other stimuli with the drug meaning any cues will cause relapse.

Question 14

general
social learning theory
what type of drug prevention programmes should be made?

Answer 14

Those that target beginner adolescents as it is them who are highly influenced by their peers and are more likely to associate with other adolescents who smoke. The programmes would teach them how to refuse drugs and informs them on the influences of peers on drug use.

Question 15

general

how is relapse happening in addicts?

Answer 15

Conditioned cues such as the sounds of casino’s cause the individual to have little confidence in their ability to abstain. These act as triggers and increase arousal. This can result in relapse.

Question 16

general

What is the study that supports relapse is caused by cues?

Answer 16

out of 2 groups; one told there was no availability of smoking and one told there was an availability, those told there was an availability had a greater urge to smoke.

Question 17

general

implications for treatment

Answer 17

Stimulus discrimination where associated cues are extinguished so that the individual no longer associated the addictive behaviour with the stimulus. E.g. creating cigarette smoke but no reinforcement, the conditioned cue becomes broken down until it is no longer associated with the pleasurable experience.

Question 18

gambling
initiation
what theory does gambling initiation use?

Answer 18

operant conditioning

Question 19

gambling
initiation
how is gambling initiated using operant conditioning

Answer 19

any behaviour the individual finds rewarding is likely to become more frequent. Gamblers play slot machines are likely to become addicted due to the financial, social and psychological rewards. The dopamine released causes the reward feeling. However, you cannot apply this to all forms of gambling e.g some have a long time span between the bet and the outcome and others have short

Question 20

gambling
maintenance
this is split into 2 sections, what are they?

Answer 20

intermittent reinforcement

social approval

Question 21

gambling
maintenance
intermittent reinforcement

Answer 21

people continue to gamble because of the occasional reinforcements that is characteristic of most types of gambling. As a result they become used to long periods without reward and it is reinforced by the occasional payout.

Question 22

gambling
maintenance
social approval

Answer 22

reinforcement is provided in the from of social approval by others. Peers and family of pathological gamblers are more likely to approve of gambling and those that received this reinforcement were more likely to gamble more and for longer.

Question 23

gambling
maintenance
evaluation
different pathways to gambling so should be different treatments

Answer 23

gamblers in the ‘behaviorally conditioned’ pathway may have begun gambling due to exposure to gambling through a role model. these tend to be least severe gamblers and are motivated to enter treatment and hence show more successful treatments. Those who are ‘emotionally vulnerable’ gamblers are more likely to gamble to relieve their emotional state and are more resistant to change.

Question 24

gambling
relapse
what theory is used to explain relapse?

Answer 24

classical conditioning

Question 25

gambling
relapse
describe relapse through classical conditioning

Answer 25

addicts learn to associate other stimuli with their gambling behaviour e.g. sounds of a casino. these act as a trigger for gambling because they increase arousal. The are positively reinforced and hence if they come into contact with them the chance of relapse increases.

Question 26

smoking
initiation
what theory is used to explain why smoking is initiated?

Answer 26

social learning theory

Question 27

smoking
initiation
how is SLT used to describe initiation for smoking?

Answer 27

people first initiate smoking as a consequence of the social models they have around them who smoke. These people get a reward e..g popularity and so an association is made creating a positive reinforcement from the dopamine rush and so continue smoking.

Question 28

smoking
initiation
evaluation
role models-what research is there to support the role of role models?

Answer 28

peer group influences have found to be the primary influence for adolescents who smoke and those who smoked are more likely to hang out with other people who smoke.
If close friends smoke, you are 8x more likely to do so too.

Question 29

smoking
initiation
evaluation
prevention programmes

Answer 29

these programmes should target beginner adolescents are these are the ones who are most vulnerable to the influence of peers and are in the most need of drug resistance skills. REAL WORLD APPLCIAION

Question 30

smoking
maintenance
how is smoking maintained?

Answer 30

the repetition of smoking leads to a strong conditioned association between the sensory aspect of smoking e.g. sight of cigarette and the reinforcing effects. Smoking related cues become conditioned so release dopamine still making it harder to stop.

Question 31

smoking
maintenance
evaluation
gender bias

Answer 31

the onset of smoking addiction follows a different pattern in men and women with women starting smoking later and explanations of smoking to explain maintenance ignore these differences.

Question 32

smoking
relapse
what theory is used to explain this

Answer 32

classical conditoning

Question 33

smoking
relapse
explain how classical conditioning explain this

Answer 33

cues that are associated with smoking e.g sight of cigarettes are likely to increase the likelihood that the smoker will respond by smoking.

Question 34

smoking
relapse
evaluation
research support for cues suggesting smoking

Answer 34

when showing people cues for smoking and either giving them the availability to smoke or not, those with the availability had the greater urge supporting that cues related to smoking are more likely to increase rate of relapse.

Question 35

smoking
relapse
why are people more likely to relapse?

Answer 35

have lower confidence in themselves to do so