I made these flash cards on Quizlet around 6 months ago in 2021. I ended up getting a Distinction in my Unit 3 exam as a result of utilising these notes (my score was 58/70). I 100% believe that this resource will guarantee you a grade like mine as well (or better). Learning aims B2 and B3 are cove...
Health psychology LAB2 AND LAB3
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_an234v
1. Biological ap- A person may start smoking because of biological factors
proach's expla- that are related to nicotine (which can trigger addiction).
nation to smok- The 2 factors:
ing: Initiation - genetic predisposition
- dopamine receptors
2. 1. Initiation - ge- Genes can be a risk factor in the initiation of a smoking
netic predisposi- addiction. Carmelli et al. (1991) states that genetic influ-
tion ences contribute to 53% to the risk of taking up smoking
Twins studies have also confirmed a role of genes in the
initiation of smoking.
3. 1.) Initiation - Neurons (located in the area of the brain called the ven-
dopamine recep- tral tegmental area- VTA), have receptors (something that
tors respond to something else) on their surfaces, which can
respond to dopamine molecules. Dopamine is the brain's
'pleasure and reward chemical'.
- Nicotine molecules (bits of nicotine) are able to attach
themselves to these dopamine receptors.
So this means...when a person first smokes a cigarette,
nicotine molecules reach the receptors and triggers the
release of dopamine in an area in the brain called the
nucleus accumbens (NA). The feelings of pleasure (the
'buzz') the smoker gets are rewarding because of the
dopamine release-and in most cases for first-time smok-
ers, this can get them hooked.
4. Maintenance and Dopamine helps maintain a smoker's habit because nico-
relapse: (smok- tine molecules continue to attach themselves in the VTA
ing) and dopamine is released in the NA. The pleasure from the
dopamine rewards the smoking behaviour, so the smoker
continues to smoke.
5. Maintenance and Schachter (1977) argued that people continue to smoke
relapse: (smok- in order to regulate the amount of nicotine in their blood-
ing - nicotine reg- stream.
ulation)
, Health psychology LAB2 AND LAB3
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_an234v
In other words, smokers continue smoking to avoid with-
drawal symptoms.
6. Maintenance and A short while after a smoker finishes their cigarette, with-
relapse: (smok- drawal symptoms (e.g. anxiety, cravings) start to kick in.
ing - withdrawal
symptoms) Smokers become good at avoiding these symptoms by
smoking again, and bringing their blood nicotine levels up
again.
7. Maintenance and Over time, constant stimulation of dopamine receptors
relapse: (smok- leads to a reduction in their sensitivity.
ing- tolerance)
This means a smoker must re-stimulate with a larger dose
to achieve the same sensation.
Tolerances also change the mood of a smoker (no longer
rewarded) but have larger withdrawal symptoms.
8. Vink et al. (2005) Aims - to see if genetic risk factors contribute separately
to smoking initiation and nicotine dependence.
Method - researchers gathered smoking-related data from
the Netherlands twin-register between 1991 and 2005.
868 monozygotic twins and 704 dizygotic twins were used
and completed the Fagerstrom test for nicotine depen-
dence (FTND).
Findings - initiation of smoking: 44% genetic, 56% envi-
ronment; nicotine dependence: 75% genetic, 25% envi-
ronment.
Conclusion - genetic factors contribute significantly to the
initiation and dependence of smoking.
9. MZ and DZ Twin studies are used in genetic studies, to see if behav-
iours are genetic or environmental
MZ - monozygotic, identical twins
DZ - dizygotic, fraternal (non-identical) twins
, Health psychology LAB2 AND LAB3
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_an234v
10. Vink et al (2005) +There are practical benefits of Vink et al.'s (2005) re-
- Evaluation of search. There is a 56% chance of smokers initiating their
study- strengths addiction from the environment, meaning it is not in-
and weaknesses evitable for someone to become a smoker. Steps can be
taken in childhood or interventions to prevent people from
taking up smoking.
-Vink et al. (2005) relied on self-report techniques, which
is a weakness, as the FTND was under a social desirability
bias - meaning the results may not reflect the true nature
of the behaviour of smokers.
11. Evaluation of bi- +One strength of this, is that there is research support for
ological explana- nicotine regulation. Schachter (1977) gave light and heavy
tion to smoking smokers cigarettes containing lower-than- usual amounts
of nicotine. This meant the smokers would have lower
levels of nicotine in their blood stream than they were
used to. As predicted by the nicotine regulation model,
heavy smokers increased their smoking more than the
light smokers did because they needed to make up for the
bigger nicotine deficit. This is important because it means
that the validity of the theory is supported because the
finding matched a prediction of the theory.
- One weakness is that their is evidence that suggests
that not everyone regulates their nicotine levels. Shiffman
et al (1995), studied people who smoked regularly but do
not become dependant on nicotine (chippers). One finding
was that chippers who smoked 5 cigarettes a day showed
no withdrawal symptoms when they abstained (stopped
smoking for a period of time) and no compulsion to smoke
again. The study suggested that the chippers may have
learned to smoke through observing models rather than
the dopamine hit received from nicotine. This is impor-
tant because it suggests that some people smoke due to
non-biological reasons and not because of the regulation
theory.
12.
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