Alcohol - Learning approach

• What does operant conditioning claim about behavior repetition?

  Behavior needs a reward to be repeated
• What are some positive rewards of drinking alcohol?

  Stress relief, confidence, sociability, friendships
• How can role models contribute to alcohol initiation?

  Individuals imitate successful, popular role models
• What is negative reinforcement in the context of alcohol initiation?

  Using alcohol to relieve stress or anxiety
• What physiological effect does alcohol have during initiation?

  It releases dopamine in the prefrontal cortex
• How might an individual abuse alcohol to achieve dopamine release?

  By consuming alcohol regularly
• How does negative reinforcement explain the maintenance of alcohol use?

  Negative side effects are relieved by drinking more
• What social factors contribute to the maintenance of alcohol use?

  Peer groups and social situations encourage drinking
• What positive rewards can reinforce the maintenance of alcohol use?

  Anxiety reduction and friendships with drinkers
• What challenges do negative symptoms pose for individuals trying to avoid relapse?

  Negative symptoms make it hard to abstain
• What are some life-threatening withdrawal symptoms of alcohol?

  Delirium tremens can be life-threatening
• Why do many alcoholics relapse?

  Withdrawal symptoms are too difficult to endure
• What is a strength of aversion therapy in treating alcohol dependence?

  It associates alcohol with negative experiences
• What happens if the negative association in aversion therapy is not maintained?

  Relapse can occur
• Why are learning theories considered reliable?

  They can be scientifically tested
• What is a weakness of the learning approach to alcohol dependence?

  It ignores biological and behavioral effects
• What physiological illness can prolonged alcohol abuse cause?

  Liver failure is a potential illness
• What ethical issues might arise from aversion therapy?

  It may raise ethical concerns about treatment