Topic Summaries

Explanations for nicotine addiction

A-Level > Psychology > AQA > A-Level Psychology Topic Summaries > Addiction > Explanations for nicotine addiction
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Addiction

  • Brain neurochemistry:
    • 👥 Dani and Heinemann’s (1996) desensitisation hypothesis theorised that there was an antagonistic effect between acetylcholine and dopamine, especially in areas of the brain that control feelings of pain and pleasure.
    • Nicotinic receptors allow acetylcholine and nicotine to bind to them. An action potential is generated and therefore the acetylcholine is broken down. However, due to the nicotine being there, the receptors go through desensitisation which is where they become less sensitive and therefore leads to feelings of heightened pleasure.
    • This process leads to dopamine being released in the mesolimbic system, which interacts with nicotinic receptors that provide feelings of heightened pleasure
    • When there is a lack of nicotine, the receptors become hypersensitive to acetylcholine again, which can result in feelings of high anxiety and nausea.
    • Gradually, the concentration of nicotine needed to provoke deregulation increases, so a tolerance to nicotine is developed.
  • Social learning theory:
    • Psychologists argue that nicotine addictions can be explained by using social learning theory as it is a learned behaviour that can be acquired through classical or operant conditioning.
    • Positive reinforcement suggests that we carry out certain behaviours because we’re motivated by the rewards. Smoking can be positively reinforced by the reward of positive feelings and heightened pleasure. Therefore, we want to smoke again to get the same rewards of feeling good.
    • Negative reinforcement suggest we carry out certain behaviours because we want to avoid unpleasant consequences. People continue to smoke as they don’t want to experience the unpleasant consequences of withdrawal symptoms.
    • Cue reactivity suggests there are certain environmental cues which increased likelihood of doing the addictive behaviour (e.g. smoking at a social gathering). These environments contain primary reinforces and secondary reinforces. These reinforces work together to reinforce and maintain excessive smoking habits and nicotine addiction.

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