2022-2024 Year 13 A-Level Psychology - Addiction: Explanations of nicotine addiction -Learning Theory TW
Nicotine addiction can be explained by learning theory, particularly operant conditioning, where smoking is reinforced by positive consequences like pleasure or relief from stress. Over time, these rewards strengthen the habit, making the behaviour more likely to continue.
Which behaviourist principle can be used to explain smoking addiction?
Operant conditioning
Key Terms
Which behaviourist principle can be used to explain smoking addiction?
Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is learning through…
Consequence (rewards and punishments)
Learning through rewards and punishments is known as…
Operant conditioning
Which type of reinforcement explains how an individual FORMS an addiction?
Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement explains how smoking addiction is ____________ .
Formed
What is an individual rewarded with when they inhale nicotine?
Euphoria
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Which behaviourist principle can be used to explain smoking addiction? | Operant conditioning |
Operant conditioning is learning through… | Consequence (rewards and punishments) |
Learning through rewards and punishments is known as… | Operant conditioning |
Which type of reinforcement explains how an individual FORMS an addiction? | Positive reinforcement |
Positive reinforcement explains how smoking addiction is ____________ . | Formed |
What is an individual rewarded with when they inhale nicotine? | Euphoria |
WHY does nicotine reward an individual with euphoria? | Impact on the dopamine system |
Nicotines impact on the dopamine system provides the individual with feelings of… | Euphoria |
According to positive reinforcement, why will an individual smoke again? | To receive the same reward of euphoria |
What reward are individuals looking to receive from smoking according to positive reinforcement? | Euphoria / pleasure |
Which type of reinforcement explains why we maintain a smoking addiction? | Negative reinforcement |
Negative reinforcement explains how we ________ a smoking addiction | Maintain |
What is negative reinforcement? | Performing a behaviour to AVOID negative consequences |
What is the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment according to operant conditioning? | Negative reinforcement is an individual repeatedly performing a behaviour to AVOID a negative consequence (increasing the frequency of the behaviour) WHEREAS Punishment is where an individual receives the negative consequence which STOPS the behaviour (decreasing it’s frequency) |
What is the negative consequence nicotine addicts wish to avoid? | Withdrawal |
What are some symptoms of nicotine withdrawal? | Disturbed sleep, agitation, poor concentration |
What behaviour is repeated by a nicotine addict to AVOID the negative consequence of withdrawal? | Smoking (inhaling nicotine) |
How could classical conditioning explain nicotine addiction? | Addict ASSOCIATES nicotine with pleasure |
Classical conditioning is learning through… | Stimulus, response and ASSOCIATIONS |
In the context of nicotine addiction, what is the effect of cues? | Psychological (craving) and physiological (heart rate) reaction |
What is meant by cue reactivity? | Where an individual has a psychological and physiological reaction to a secondary reinforcer |
What is the consequence of an individual having a ‘cue reaction’? | They want to smoke (seek primary reinforcement) |
What are some examples of potential ‘cues’ in nicotine addiction? | Seeing a lighter, certain friends, places etc |
AO3: What research is there to support the concept of cue reactivity? | Carter & Tiffany (1999) |
AO3: What did Carter & Tiffany do to research cue-reactivity? | Conducted a meta-analysis of 41 studies into cue-reactivity, presenting smokers and non-smokers with smoking related cues |
AO3: What did Carter & Tiffany find in regards to cue-reactivity? | Smokers reported higher levels of desire in response to smoking related cues and showed higher heart rates |
AO3: What type of determinism is learning theory's explanation of nicotine addiction? | Environmental |
AO3: What does learning theory suggest an individual is controlled by? | Reinforcements and associations |
AO3: What practical applications have been developed as a result of learning theory's explanation of nicotine addiction? | Aversion therapy and covert sensitisation |
AO3: What research is there to support learning theory of nicotine addiction? | Levin et al |
AO3: What does learning theory neglect the role of in nicotine addiction? | The role of free will |
Cue reactivity is based on what type of conditioning? | classical conditioning. |
When an individual smokes, there are environmental stimuli present alongside cigarettes. Give three examples of stimuli that might be present with smoking? | Holding a drink, certain friends, pubs, relaxing on the sofa after an evening meal. |
Holding a drink, certain friends, pubs, relaxing on the sofa after an evening meal are all examples of what? | Environment stimuli that might be there when someone is smoking |
What will the individual will learn to make between the nicotine and stimuli that are there at the same time e.g. drinking? | An association |
Before conditioning the environmental stimuli is a stimulus | Neutral |
Once the environmental stimuli e.g. having a drink become associated with smoking what do they act as? | Act as a cue (trigger) to smoking leading to craving. |
Give an example of an environmental stimuli that acts as a cue to smoke? | Evening meal is finished - triggers the person to crave and then have a cigarette |
How do cues link to psychological withdrawal? | Cues trigger cravings = psychological withdrawal |
Cues lead to what type of withdrawal physical or psychological? | Psychological |
How does cue activity explain relapse | Cue trigger cravings - psychological withdrawal which triggers relapse to stop cravings. |
What is meant by cue reactivity | A person associates certain stimuli with smoking leading to these stimuli triggering cravings to smoke |
'A person associates certain stimuli with smoking leading to these stimuli triggering cravings to smoke' is what theory from the learning theory to smoking? | Cue reactivity |
Cues trigger cravings – cravings trigger addictive behaviour comes from what theory? | Cue reactivity |
In cue reactivity theory, what is the conditioned response? | Cravings to smoke |
In cue reactivity theory, what causes the conditioned response of cravings? | Conditioned stimuli e.g. drinking |