Transcript Learning model of addictive behaviour


Individually, make notes on the answers
to the 8 questions that review the
learning model from AS
Addictions are habits which are learned
according to the principles of OC, CC
and SLT
 Addictions can be ‘unlearned’
 Addictions are no different from any
other behaviours
 Addictions are not ‘all or nothing’
categories – there are degrees of
smoking/gambling behaviour

A UCS (e.g. sitting with a group of
friends) spontaneously produces a UCR
(e.g. feeling relaxed).
 If the UCS is frequently associated with a
NS (smoking a cigarette), this then
eventually becomes the CS
 The CS (smoking a cigarette) will then
produce the CS of feeling relaxed
 According to CC, the individual has
learned to associate smoking with a
desirable outcome

Behaviour is repeated if there is
reinforcement
 Positive reinforcement – reward is desirable
consequence (social, psychological,
physical)
 Negative reinforcement – the reward is
removal of something unpleasant (relief
from withdrawal symptoms)
 Rewards depend on individual (needs, past
experience, substance) and context (e.g.
smoking when feeling low is more
rewarding. This is a discriminative stimulus.)

Based on more complex perceptual and
reasoning skills of humans (rather than
animal behaviour)
 Addiction can be learned through
observing others
 E.g. by observing role models (parents,
celebrities) receive reinforcement for
smoking/gambling, we want to imitate in
order to gain similar rewards (vicarious
learning)
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
Compare and contrast the biological
and learning models of addiction by
filling in the table in your booklet

Read and make your own notes (in any
form that will help you remember them)
on how the learning model of addiction
explains the initiation, maintenance and
relapse of smoking and gambling
behaviour
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Goldberg et al (1981) found that many
animals (monkeys, dogs, rats, mice) will
press a lever for nicotine in Skinner-style
box. This suggests that…

Risner et al (1983) found dogs willing to
press lever hundreds of times to get just
one shot of nicotine. This supports the
learning model of smoking…
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Studies limited in generalisability
because carried out on animals –
people are infinitely more complex than
dogs/rats and have higher order thinking
skills, language skills and operate in
sophisticated social environment
Gave questionnaires to school children on
own addictive habits (smoking and
alcohol) and drug use of best friend and
other friends
 Found influence of best friend stronger than
influences of other friends. Smoking by
friends more important than approval of
friends
 Best friends (role models) play important
role in smoking through teenage years both
in initiation and maintenance of addiction
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
Listen to podcast on evaluation for the
learning model of gambling behaviour
on the Psychology website and make
your own notes.

Revision notes for the biological and
learning model of addiction