Quick questions on Explaining addiction: genes and the learning theory - Edexcel GCSE Psychology

A neutral cue (such as a place, time or object associated with the substance) becomes linked to the substance through repeated pairing, so the cue alone triggers a craving. This is why people often relapse when they return to environments linked to their addiction.

The addictive behaviour is reinforced by its consequences. Positive reinforcement: it produces a pleasant feeling (a high or a win), which strengthens the behaviour. Negative reinforcement: it removes something unpleasant, such as stress or withdrawal symptoms, which also strengthens it.

Kimberly Young applied addiction ideas to internet use, arguing that excessive use can become a genuine behavioural addiction with features such as loss of control, preoccupation and using the internet to escape problems. Young developed assessment criteria and a cognitive behavioural treatment, supporting the view that addiction is not limited to substances.

Strength of learning theory: it explains how addiction is maintained (reinforcement) and why cues trigger relapse, and it leads to treatments that target conditioning. Weakness: it may underplay biology, since genes and brain chemistry also matter, so the best account combines learning and biological factors.

Name two characteristics of addiction. [2 marks]

In classical conditioning, what triggers a craving? [1 mark]

Explain one strength of the learning theory of addiction. [2 marks]