Behaviourist Perspective
An individual can learn behaviour by observing others for example a child watching their parents smoke can learn this behaviour by becoming a smoker themselves, this is known as social learning theory (Bandura 1965)
Individuals are often reinforced for modelling the behaviour of others Bandura suggested (1965) that the environment also reinforces modeling. This happens in several possible ways: The individual is reinforced by the model. For example a student who smokes to fit in with a certain group of students has a strong likelihood of being accepted and thus reinforced by that group this is seen as positive reinforcement. An opposite effect is an individual gets laughed at for smoking in a group of students and stops smoking this is punishment.
Strengths of this theory are that it makes sense that an individual can copy the behaviour of others by positive reinforcement to fit in to the social circle it is a highly testable theory and can be easy set up (Bandura 1956). A limitation of smoking in this behaviour is that some individuals will grow up and find smoking and its behaviour repulsive, this could have been caused by a parent dying or getting very ill. So they will find any smoking behaviour disgusting.
Cognitive approach
The Cognitive Approach in psychology is a very up-to-date and modern approach to human behaviour in psychology. It focuses on how we think, with the belief that these thought processes affect the way in which we behave throughout our day to day life.
We as individuals our minds work just like computers encoding information and storing information, we then process the information as an output for example.
Information processing approach
So in this instance the individual decides to smoke for social reason, which could be either to fit into the group and be accepted or look cool or it could be both. This however is all made up in the mind and cognitive psychologists believe our thoughts influence our behaviour, this is received by perception. A group of people will see the same stimulus (Smoking); however each person’s response to the stimulus is different.
Other reason why people choose to smoke is due to the fact that they think after having a cigarette they think they will feel better and more positive.
Limitation is that it is subjective its hard to measure thoughts it can not be measured. Another limitation is that behaviourists argued that ‘attention’ was unobservable. And that people can not be compared to computers this is Mechanistic
Biological approach
Smokers find their body craves nicotine and they find in hard to give up because it so addictive. Their biological needs make them need too smoke for example when you are stressed or anxious you body feels that if you smoke you will feel better. It is also found that their addiction to the nicotine will also change them psychologically for the worse, they will commit crimes to pay for cigarettes and then neglect their social roles (Hemmersley 1999).
Darwin’s theory (1859) “On the origin of species by means of natural selection.” And the importance of natural selection can be hindered when an individual smokes because the process of natural selection has failed because you might find the individual attractive but if they smoke you won’t select them to be your mate. So smoking can make an individual more attractive if you are a smoker and unattractive if you don’t smoke.
Strength of this approach is that it’s very scientific and it can be proven .that smokers smoke because their body craves the drive that nicotine has on how they feel, they become addicted to the drug (Hammersley 1999). Addicts are compelled by a physiological need to continue taking the drug, experience physical and psychological symptoms when trying to stop. A limitation in this approach does not leave room for the cognitive process. This approach is seen as being deterministic behaviour is determined by our biology its also falsifiable and objective
Humanistic approach
They believe that an individual’s behaviour is connected to their inner feelings and self image. So smokers smoke to feel good and are part of their self actualisation process. This is their unique desire to achieve their highest potential as individuals from Abraham Maslow’s (1908 – 1970) hierarchy of needs.
So being accepted as a smoker is an unconditional positive regard and a conditional positive regard is where if you start to smoke you then and only then be accepted for who you are both of these regards will assist the individual in self worth and in happiness and help them on the journey to self actualisation.
Strength of this approach is that it is all based on an individual’s free will and we are unique and individual. A limitation is that not smoking is not in everyone’s list of hierarchy of needs and won’t lead them to self-actualisation (Maslow 1954). This approach is too subjective and lacks scientific research to support its ideas.
References
Books used
Gross.R, (2005), Psychology The science of mind and behaviour, Fifth Edition, Green Gate Publishing, Hodder Arnold, London
