EXPLANATIONS OF SMOKING
BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF SMOKING
AO1-
INITIATION
The role of genetics – family + twin studies estimate the heritability of tobacco smoking to be
between 39% - 80%.
This demonstrates the importance of genetics in developing a smoking addiction.
Pre-natal exposure to nicotine can also increase an individual’s chance of developing a nicotine
addiction.
MAINTENANCE
Nicotine affects brain chemistry by activating receptors in the brain, which lead to the release of
dopamine.
These chemical reactions create short lived feeling of pleasure for the smoker.
However – these feelings soon wear off as the nicotine level in the blood drops, meaning the
smokers will have another cigarette to retrieve those positive feelings – this maintains the addiction.
RELAPSE
An individual may relapse if they can’t resist the need to replace the nicotine levels in their blood
(which is why alternative methods of obtaining nicotine such as patches are used).
↓
AO2 –
RESEARCH – Thorgeirsson et al (2008)
POINT – provides support for the influence of genetics on smoking behaviour.
EVIDENCE – Icelandic study – identified a specific gene variant on chromosome 15 that
influenced the number of cigarettes smoked a day, nicotine dependence + the risk of
developing smoking-related diseases. Smokers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day
were more likely to have this variant of the gene.
EXPLAIN – supports because it suggests that although smoking may not determine
smoking initiation, it may make it more likely that some smokers will become dependent
on nicotine once they do start smoking.
EVALUATE – weakness – culture bias – only used participants from Iceland – may be
↓
APPROACH – biological
STATE – takes the biological approach to psychology.
EXPLAIN – this approach explains behaviour by relating it to the functioning of the brain.
Argue chemical processes in the brain have an important influence on behaviour.
RELATE – takes this approach because it explains smoking addiction as being maintained
by the nicotine stimulating specific receptors in the brain which cause they release of
dopamine, so make the individual feel better. Argues the individual needs to keep smoking
in order to maintain this constant release of dopamine.
EVALUATE – weakness – this approach underplays the role of social factors such as
socialisation and cultural influences – so may miss important contributing factors to
BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF SMOKING
AO1-
INITIATION
The role of genetics – family + twin studies estimate the heritability of tobacco smoking to be
between 39% - 80%.
This demonstrates the importance of genetics in developing a smoking addiction.
Pre-natal exposure to nicotine can also increase an individual’s chance of developing a nicotine
addiction.
MAINTENANCE
Nicotine affects brain chemistry by activating receptors in the brain, which lead to the release of
dopamine.
These chemical reactions create short lived feeling of pleasure for the smoker.
However – these feelings soon wear off as the nicotine level in the blood drops, meaning the
smokers will have another cigarette to retrieve those positive feelings – this maintains the addiction.
RELAPSE
An individual may relapse if they can’t resist the need to replace the nicotine levels in their blood
(which is why alternative methods of obtaining nicotine such as patches are used).
↓
AO2 –
RESEARCH – Thorgeirsson et al (2008)
POINT – provides support for the influence of genetics on smoking behaviour.
EVIDENCE – Icelandic study – identified a specific gene variant on chromosome 15 that
influenced the number of cigarettes smoked a day, nicotine dependence + the risk of
developing smoking-related diseases. Smokers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day
were more likely to have this variant of the gene.
EXPLAIN – supports because it suggests that although smoking may not determine
smoking initiation, it may make it more likely that some smokers will become dependent
on nicotine once they do start smoking.
EVALUATE – weakness – culture bias – only used participants from Iceland – may be
↓
APPROACH – biological
STATE – takes the biological approach to psychology.
EXPLAIN – this approach explains behaviour by relating it to the functioning of the brain.
Argue chemical processes in the brain have an important influence on behaviour.
RELATE – takes this approach because it explains smoking addiction as being maintained
by the nicotine stimulating specific receptors in the brain which cause they release of
dopamine, so make the individual feel better. Argues the individual needs to keep smoking
in order to maintain this constant release of dopamine.
EVALUATE – weakness – this approach underplays the role of social factors such as
socialisation and cultural influences – so may miss important contributing factors to
