The learning approach to gambling and smoking Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in The learning approach to gambling and smoking Deck (35)
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1
Q

what is an addiction

A

a mental disorder whereby the individual loses their control over a particular behaviour.

2
Q

what are the 3 theories behind the models of addiction approach?

A

operant conditioning
classical conditioning
social learning theory

3
Q

what is operant conditioning

A

using positive and negative reinforcement to modify behaviour

4
Q

what is classical conditoning

A

a learned association between 2 stimuli paired/

5
Q

general
initiation
Operant conditioning-positive reinforcement
how does this cause an addiction?

A

People are rewarded and so repeat the behaviour. Smoking and gambling can seem rewarding because of the release of dopamine that comes from a positive reinforcer which creates feelings of happiness. These act as positive reinforcers and make the individual want to experience the reward again. Researchers argue gamblers playing slot machines may become addicted because of the social rewards as well as financial and psychological.

6
Q

general
initiation
operant conditioning
evaluation-why would someone begin in the first place?

A

This theory doesnt explain why someone would begin to smoke or gamble before the first release of dopamine. It also doesn’t explain why some individuals take part in this first action of behaviour and others dont. Suggesting the biological explanation is more effective. It also doesnt explain all forms of addictive behaviour e.g. sports betting which dont have an immediate reward.

7
Q

general
maintenance
operant conditioning- negative reinforcement

A

when the drug is discontinued, withdrawal symptoms appear. These are unpleasant and any reduction in these effects would constitute negative reinforcement. and so the behaviour is maintained to stop the withdrawal symptoms.

8
Q

general
classical conditioning
initiation-the role of secondary reinforcers

A

Stimuli that occur at the same time as a learned stimulus may become secondary reinforcers through association. E.g.noises and senses of an arcade are associated with gambling and can become a conditioned response.

9
Q

general
classical conditioning
maintenance- the threat of withdrawal symptoms

A

the drug effect is an unconditioned stimulus. The body responds with an unconditioned response as it tries to restore equilibrium. Any stimulus that precedes a drug dose becomes a conditioned stimulus leading to a conditioned response in the anticipation of the effects of the drug.

10
Q

general
classical conditioning
how does relapse occur

A

conditioned responses that occur in the absence of the drug put the body in a state of disequilibrium which the individual experiences as withdrawal symptoms.

11
Q

general
classical conditioning
evaluation
research support with soldiers

A

while at war these men smoked, when they returned home,because of the conditioned response being broken down by the different environment and cues, they were able to stop smoking.

12
Q

general
social learning theory
how does addictive behaviour begin this way?

A

Addiction begins through operant conditioning as the user learns about the consequences of the drug taking. Any positive or negative consequences will be observe through others and could lead to repeated use. Or could lead to a decrease in the behaviour being repeated. Individuals begin to recognise that different classes of drugs warrant different effects and therefore expect different expectations of the outcome.

13
Q

general
social learning theory
how is an addiction maintained this way

A

drugs encourage people to both approach and avoid it creating an approach-avoidance conflict where motivation fluctuates between wanting to use the drug and wanting to stop. Addicts have also learned to associate other stimuli with the drug meaning any cues will cause relapse.

14
Q

general
social learning theory
what type of drug prevention programmes should be made?

A

Those that target beginner adolescents as it is them who are highly influenced by their peers and are more likely to associate with other adolescents who smoke. The programmes would teach them how to refuse drugs and informs them on the influences of peers on drug use.

15
Q

general

how is relapse happening in addicts?

A

Conditioned cues such as the sounds of casino’s cause the individual to have little confidence in their ability to abstain. These act as triggers and increase arousal. This can result in relapse.

16
Q

general

What is the study that supports relapse is caused by cues?

A

out of 2 groups; one told there was no availability of smoking and one told there was an availability, those told there was an availability had a greater urge to smoke.

17
Q

general

implications for treatment

A

Stimulus discrimination where associated cues are extinguished so that the individual no longer associated the addictive behaviour with the stimulus. E.g. creating cigarette smoke but no reinforcement, the conditioned cue becomes broken down until it is no longer associated with the pleasurable experience.

18
Q

gambling
initiation
what theory does gambling initiation use?

A

operant conditioning

19
Q

gambling
initiation
how is gambling initiated using operant conditioning

A

any behaviour the individual finds rewarding is likely to become more frequent. Gamblers play slot machines are likely to become addicted due to the financial, social and psychological rewards. The dopamine released causes the reward feeling. However, you cannot apply this to all forms of gambling e.g some have a long time span between the bet and the outcome and others have short

20
Q

gambling
maintenance
this is split into 2 sections, what are they?

A

intermittent reinforcement

social approval

21
Q

gambling
maintenance
intermittent reinforcement

A

people continue to gamble because of the occasional reinforcements that is characteristic of most types of gambling. As a result they become used to long periods without reward and it is reinforced by the occasional payout.

22
Q

gambling
maintenance
social approval

A

reinforcement is provided in the from of social approval by others. Peers and family of pathological gamblers are more likely to approve of gambling and those that received this reinforcement were more likely to gamble more and for longer.

23
Q

gambling
maintenance
evaluation
different pathways to gambling so should be different treatments

A

gamblers in the ‘behaviorally conditioned’ pathway may have begun gambling due to exposure to gambling through a role model. these tend to be least severe gamblers and are motivated to enter treatment and hence show more successful treatments. Those who are ‘emotionally vulnerable’ gamblers are more likely to gamble to relieve their emotional state and are more resistant to change.

24
Q

gambling
relapse
what theory is used to explain relapse?

A

classical conditioning

25
Q

gambling
relapse
describe relapse through classical conditioning

A

addicts learn to associate other stimuli with their gambling behaviour e.g. sounds of a casino. these act as a trigger for gambling because they increase arousal. The are positively reinforced and hence if they come into contact with them the chance of relapse increases.

26
Q

smoking
initiation
what theory is used to explain why smoking is initiated?

A

social learning theory

27
Q

smoking
initiation
how is SLT used to describe initiation for smoking?

A

people first initiate smoking as a consequence of the social models they have around them who smoke. These people get a reward e..g popularity and so an association is made creating a positive reinforcement from the dopamine rush and so continue smoking.

28
Q

smoking
initiation
evaluation
role models-what research is there to support the role of role models?

A

peer group influences have found to be the primary influence for adolescents who smoke and those who smoked are more likely to hang out with other people who smoke.
If close friends smoke, you are 8x more likely to do so too.

29
Q

smoking
initiation
evaluation
prevention programmes

A

these programmes should target beginner adolescents are these are the ones who are most vulnerable to the influence of peers and are in the most need of drug resistance skills. REAL WORLD APPLCIAION

30
Q

smoking
maintenance
how is smoking maintained?

A

the repetition of smoking leads to a strong conditioned association between the sensory aspect of smoking e.g. sight of cigarette and the reinforcing effects. Smoking related cues become conditioned so release dopamine still making it harder to stop.

31
Q

smoking
maintenance
evaluation
gender bias

A

the onset of smoking addiction follows a different pattern in men and women with women starting smoking later and explanations of smoking to explain maintenance ignore these differences.

32
Q

smoking
relapse
what theory is used to explain this

A

classical conditoning

33
Q

smoking
relapse
explain how classical conditioning explain this

A

cues that are associated with smoking e.g sight of cigarettes are likely to increase the likelihood that the smoker will respond by smoking.

34
Q

smoking
relapse
evaluation
research support for cues suggesting smoking

A

when showing people cues for smoking and either giving them the availability to smoke or not, those with the availability had the greater urge supporting that cues related to smoking are more likely to increase rate of relapse.

35
Q

smoking
relapse
why are people more likely to relapse?

A

have lower confidence in themselves to do so