One Learning Explanation for Alcohol Addiction - SLT Flashcards
Which learning theory might be used to explain addiction?
Social learning theory (SLT)
What does SLT say addiction may be learned through?
Says alcohol addiction may be learned through observation of others
How does SLT argue individuals learn addiction?
Pay attention to the behaviour being modelled - role model drinking lots of alcohol
Teenager will retain this information until they later have a suitable opportunity to reproduce it
What does SLT argue is likely to come from vicarious reinforcement?
Motivation to reproduce the behaviour is likely to come from vicarious reinforcement
Indirectly reinforce the teenager who will want to imitate the drinking in order to receive the same attention
What is the supporting evidence/strengths of SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Mundt (2012)
Quigley and Collins (1999)
Usefulness
Reductionism
What is the refuting evidence/weaknesses of SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Cloninger (1985)
Lawrance (1989)
Nature-nurture debate
Why is Mundt (2012) supporting evidence for SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Evidence that drinking alcohol is a result of peer influence and role models
Conducted research into adolescent alcohol use using a survey method. Found adolescents friendships selection was influenced by similarity in alcohol consumption
Why is Quigley & Collins (1999) supporting evidence for SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Evidence for the importance of role models in influencing alcohol consumption
In 13 studies, participants were exposed to high consumption model, low consumption model or no model
Found in high condition increased consumption of alcohol suggesting model had a strong effect on alcohol consumption
Why is usefulness a strength of SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Able to explain why someone may start to use drugs in the first place - through modelled behaviour
Why is Cloninger (1985) refuting evidence of SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Found that children of alcohol parents (compared with children of non-alcohol parents) were far more likely to become alcohols themselves even if they were adopted/taken away from biological parents
Point more to a genetic cause for alcoholism since children not exposed to alcoholic parents as role models
Why is Lawrence (1989) refuting evidence of SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Noted self-efficacy is important and may be overlooked when explaining consumption of alcohol through imitation of role models
Some individuals have self-belief that they have skills necessary to resist social influences and are less likely to copy norms of peer group whereas people who believe they are less able to resist are more likely to be addicts
Why is nature-nurture debate a weakness of SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
Explaining drug use because it states individuals engage in such behaviour because of being exposed to it from others
They participate in such behaviour because of the positive consequences experienced from either taking the drug or negative consequences from withdrawing from it
Why is reductionism a strength of SLT as an explanation of alcohol addiction?
May be viewed as more holistic than other explanations
Encompasses elements from different approaches in psychology including cognitive processes such as retention and attention
