Cognitive Explanations for Smoking - Addiction

Question 1

How can self-medication explain initiation?

Answer 1

Individuals use smoking to treat psychological symptoms such as anxiety

• Can fulfil 3 major functions: mood regulation, performance management, distraction ( Gelkopp et al)
• Believe smoking helps these

Question 2

How does Patton et al help to explain initiation?

Answer 2

Sample of 14-15 year olds about tobacco use:
- Depression + anxiety and peer smoking predicted initiation of experimental smoking
= depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with higher risk for ignition though an increased susceptibility to peer smoking influences

Question 3

How can self-medication explain maintenance?

Answer 3

• Smokers report stress relief for one of the main reasons for persisting to smoke
• BUT smokers report higher levels of stress than non-smokers - anxiety actually decreases once they stop
• Each cigarette has an immediate effect on stress symptoms because it relives the withdrawal symptoms of not smoking = chronic stress of smoking increases stress overall

Question 4

How does Patton help to explain maintenance?

Answer 4

• Due to those with depression and anxiety being more susceptible this shows there is a belief that smoking reduces these symptoms = maintained due to this belief
• Smoking increases anxiety so individuals can’t escape it

Question 5

How can self-medication help to explain relapse?

Answer 5

• Due to the association of smoking with reducing stress when an individual as high levels of stress they may turn to smoking again
  = causes them to get hooked again + stress levels to rise

Question 6

How does Patton help to explain relapse?

Answer 6

Shows that if depression/anxiety returns smoking may be used to deal with it