Smoking Behavior Between Acquisition & Maintenance: Social Learning Theory

When smokers decide to smoke, they inhale the drug nicotine. In a short time they can find it difficult to control how much they smoke or to quit smoking. Many people don’t realize they are dependent on tobacco until they try to quit. Even lifelong smokers CAN quit. Social learning theory explains how people acquire and maintain certain behaviors such as smoking behavior. As well, it provides basis for intervention and learning strategies. In this theory, human behavior is explained in terms of dynamic triadic relationship among “person” (cognitive processes), behavior, and environment. The environment largely determines or causes behavior, the individual uses cognitive processes to interpret both the environment and his or her behavior, and also behaves in ways to change the environment and meet with more favorable behavioral outcomes. Thus, social learning theory bridges the gap between the cognitively oriented rational-decision-making models and behavioral theory.