Explanations for Nicotine Addiction

• Brain Neurochemistry:

  :) RTS McEvoy

  > studied smoking behaviour in people with schizophrenia who were taking Haloperidol, which is a dopamine antagonist that lowers dopamine activity levels - people taking this drug showed a significant increase in smoking

  > supports the role of dopamine (patients sought nicotine to increase level of dopamine)

  discussion - sample bias (participants had schizophrenia)
• Brain Neurochemistry:

  :( biological reductionism

  > reduces complex human behaviour of nicotine addiction down to simple basic units of dopamine levels

  > neglects a holistic approach (social and cultural context) e.g. adolescents may develop a nicotine addiction to fit in with a particular peer group

  > brain neurochemistry explanation may lack validity
• Brain Neurochemistry:

  :) practical applications

  > the principle, that nicotine addiction is caused by levels of dopamine and increased number of nicotine receptors, has led to the treatment of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

  > provides individual with nicotine in a less harmful form (patches) and reduces dosage overtime, thus reducing tolerance and dependence as nicotine receptors return to normal levels

  > important part of applied psychology - economic implications
• Learning Theory:

  :) RTS Carter and Tiffany

  > meta-analysis of 41 studies into cue reactivity - presented dependent, non-dependent and non-smokers with smoking related cues (lighters, ashtrays etc) - self-reported desire (cravings) measured alongside heart rate (arousal)

  > dependent smokers reacted most strongly to the cues

  > supports cue reactivity - dependent smokers had learnt secondary associations between smoking related stimuli and the pleasurable effects of smoking
• Learning Theory:

  :( environmental determinism

  > an individual is controlled by reinforcements and associations that cause behaviour e.g. a person smokes and is rewarded by euphoria, so will smoke again to receive the same reward

  > neglects role of free will e.g. a person may choose to stop smoking, despite the pleasure, for health reasons

  > may not be a full explanation
• Learning Theory:

  :( practical applications

  > the principles of the theory, that addiction is caused by pleasant associations (cue reactivity), has led to behavioural interventions such as aversion therapy (rapid smoking)

  > encourages a patient to re-associate nicotine with negative feelings, such as nausea, rather than pleasure

  > important part of applied psychology

  discussion - economic implications