Donald is addicted to nicotine - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 18 - 2019 - Paper 2

One relevant learning explanation for nicotine addiction is Social Learning Theory. According to this theory, individuals learn behaviors by observing and imitating others, particularly role models. In the context of Donald, he is surrounded by family and friends who smoke, which increases the likelihood of him paying attention to their behavior.

1. Observation: Donald observed both his parents and friends smoking cigarettes. This observation allows him to recognize the behavior as a mode of relaxation and social interaction, which can be appealing. His friends, trying to appear mature, likely engaged in smoking, setting a social precedent that he feels compelled to follow.

2. Reinforcement: The behavior of smoking may have been vicariously reinforced for Donald when he saw peer praise for his friends smoking. He associates smoking with being seen as 'cool' and accepted in his social circle, where he might receive validation for mimicking this behavior.

3. Retention of Behavior: For Donald to imitate smoking effectively, he must retain the behaviors he observes in his memory. He may remember how to properly inhale and the social context in which his peers engage in smoking, especially at times when they are feeling relaxed or stress-free.

4. Contextual Cues: The craving he experiences, such as after meals, can also be rooted in learned behaviors. If he has observed smokers deriving pleasure during such times, it could create a conditioned response, leading him to desire a cigarette in similar situations.

Overall, Social Learning Theory provides a comprehensive framework to understand how Donald's nicotine addiction is influenced by the behaviors and social reinforcements he encounters in his environment.