Learning theory Nicotine

Question 1

How does operant conditioning explain the maintenance of smoking addiction?

Answer 1

Smoking has a pleasurable physiological effect, which acts as positive reinforcement, increasing the behaviour. Stopping smoking causes withdrawal symptoms (e.g., cravings, irritability), and avoiding these through continued smoking is negative reinforcement.

Question 2

What is cue reactivity in smoking addiction?

Answer 2

Addicts form learned associations between drug use and specific cues. These cues—such as a cigarette pack (discrete cue) or a pub (contextual cue)—can trigger cravings and promote continued use.

Question 3

How does Social Learning Theory explain the initiation of smoking?

Answer 3

Smoking is observed in peers or media role models and portrayed as ‘cool.’ This vicarious reinforcement encourages imitation, especially in teens and young adults, who seek similar praise and status.

Question 4

What evidence supports cue reactivity in smoking addiction?

Answer 4

Drobes (2002) found that alcoholic and non-alcoholic smokers had stronger cravings, arousal, and reduced control when shown smoking-related images, supporting the idea that learned cues maintain addiction.

Question 5

What limitation of learning theory is shown by individual differences?

Answer 5

It cannot explain why some people become addicted while others can smoke socially without dependence, suggesting that learning theory lacks explanatory power for individual variability.

Question 6

Why is learning theory considered reductionist in explaining nicotine addiction?

Answer 6

It ignores the role of neurotransmitters like dopamine, GABA, and serotonin. This implies that addiction is better explained through an interaction of biological and learning factors, and that biological treatments like nicotine patches may be more effective.