Explanations of nicotine addiction (learning)

Question 1

✪ Why might cue reactivity therapy improve smoking cessation outcomes?

Answer 1

It targets environmental triggers that cause relapse

Question 2

▲ Why does a smoker crave cigarettes in familiar settings?

Answer 2

Due to classical conditioning and cue reactivity

Question 3

● What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 3

Getting a reward for a behaviour

Question 4

● What does dopamine release cause?

Answer 4

Euphoria

Question 5

● What is the UCS in smoking behaviour?

Answer 5

Nicotine via smoking

Question 6

▲ Why might a pub trigger smoking cravings?

Answer 6

It has been associated with smoking pleasure in the past

Question 7

▲ What role do environmental cues play in smoking behaviour?

Answer 7

They can trigger cravings and lead to relapse

Question 8

✪ How do Carter and Tiffany’s findings increase the validity of learning theory?

Answer 8

They empirically showed cue-triggered responses in smokers

Question 9

✪ Why is the learning theory of smoking considered useful despite its limitations?

Answer 9

It informs treatment like aversion therapy and cue avoidance

Question 10

✪ How does Carter and Tiffany’s (1999) research support cue reactivity?

Answer 10

Dependent smokers showed increased arousal and cravings to cues like lighters and ashtrays

Question 11

● What happens when cues are present without nicotine?

Answer 11

Cravings return

Question 12

● What can cues lead to?

Answer 12

Cravings

Question 13

▲ How does cue reactivity develop?

Answer 13

Repeated exposure to cues alongside smoking

Question 14

▲ What cues might become associated with smoking?

Answer 14

Certain friends, pubs, or relaxing after meals

Question 15

✪ How do classical and operant conditioning interact in smoking addiction?

Answer 15

Initial use is reinforced (operant), maintenance tied to cues (classical)

Question 16

✪ What practical application arises from cue reactivity research?

Answer 16

Therapies aim to help individuals avoid triggers to prevent relapse

Question 17

✪ Why is learning theory considered deterministic?

Answer 17

It assumes behaviour is caused by reinforcement or association

Question 18

▲ How does operant conditioning explain smoking initiation?

Answer 18

Positive reinforcement from euphoria encourages repetition

Question 19

● What does nicotine activate in the brain?

Answer 19

Dopamine system

Question 20

● What can explain relapse in smoking?

Answer 20

Cue reactivity

Question 21

✪ How does cue reactivity lead to smoking maintenance despite intention to quit?

Answer 21

Cues trigger cravings, making abstinence difficult

Question 22

▲ How does the learning theory explain maintenance of smoking?

Answer 22

Cravings are reduced by smoking, negatively reinforcing it

Question 23

▲ What environmental stimuli can become triggers?

Answer 23

Friends, locations, or routines paired with smoking

Question 24

▲ How does operant conditioning explain continued smoking?

Answer 24

Avoidance of withdrawal symptoms via negative reinforcement

Question 25

▲ How does the brain's dopamine system reinforce smoking?

Answer 25

By producing pleasure when nicotine is inhaled

Question 26

✪ How does cue reactivity explain strong cravings even after long abstinence?

Answer 26

Learned associations remain and reactivate cravings

Question 27

● What kind of reinforcement explains continued smoking?

Answer 27

Negative reinforcement

Question 28

▲ How does negative reinforcement make quitting harder?

Answer 28

Smoking removes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms

Question 29

▲ How can classical conditioning explain nicotine addiction?

Answer 29

Environmental cues are paired with smoking to create cravings

Question 30

● What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 30

Removing an unpleasant stimulus

Question 31

● What is the CR in cue reactivity?

Answer 31

Cravings

Question 32

✪ What implication does cue reactivity have for preventing relapse?

Answer 32

Avoiding or managing cues reduces the chance of smoking again

Question 33

✪ Why is classical conditioning a powerful explanation for relapse?

Answer 33

Because cues persist long after physical dependence ends

Question 34

▲ Why does smoking behaviour persist even when someone wants to quit?

Answer 34

Cue-induced cravings and withdrawal avoidance

Question 35

● What is the CS after conditioning?

Answer 35

Pub or other cue

Question 36

● What is the UCR in smoking behaviour?

Answer 36

Pleasure from dopamine

Question 37

▲ Why do smokers relapse after quitting?

Answer 37

Cues cause cravings through learned associations

Question 38

● What maintains smoking behaviour according to learning theory?

Answer 38

Avoiding withdrawal symptoms

Question 39

● What is the NS in cue reactivity?

Answer 39

Environmental stimuli

Question 40

✪ How do behavioural interventions apply cue reactivity theory?

Answer 40

They aim to break learned associations between cues and smoking

Question 41

✪ In what way does cue reactivity offer an explanation for individual differences in smoking relapse?

Answer 41

Some people may have stronger cue associations

Question 42

▲ How does the dopamine reward pathway contribute to addiction?

Answer 42

It reinforces smoking by linking it with euphoria

Question 43

✪ Why is the learning theory of smoking criticised for environmental determinism?

Answer 43

It claims behaviour is controlled by reinforcements, ignoring free will

Question 44

● What type of conditioning is cue reactivity based on?

Answer 44

Classical conditioning

Question 45

✪ How does cue reactivity explain relapse in former smokers?

Answer 45

Cues once associated with nicotine trigger cravings even after quitting