I do not smoke (for various reasons) in certain places such as my home. For example, when I am in my room, I do smoke daily. Why is it that when I’m home for a week (or longer) it doesn’t even occur to me to smoke and I really want to smoke in my room, for example?
Furthermore, I’ve always noticed that I can say no to a cigarette better than friends, while we smoke for the same amount of time (about five years), and I’ve never really felt a sense of ‘addiction’ when I don’t smoke for a while.
Another shorter question: why does a cigarette taste so good after a meal?
Asker: Lutsch, 19 years old
Answer
Dear Lutsch
The fact that you smoke in some places, for example, but not at home, has to do with a learning process that we call classical conditioning. You know the experiment with Pavlov’s dog? First the dog salivates at the sight of the food, in a second phase the sight of food is linked to a bell. If this happens a number of times, the dog will salivate when the bell rings and there is still no food.
A cigarette is an unconditional stimulus that is linked to a physical reaction: eg relaxation, rest.
Your room may be associated with stress and smoking with relaxation. The meaning of home may be completely different, maybe you are not allowed to smoke there?
As for the link between eating and smoking
When you eat, you also have a pleasant sensation (response), just like with smoking, so you link the end of the meal (conditional incentive) to smoking a cigarette (unconditional incentive). This relationship can be strengthened if others smoke with you. Then there is also fun.
These relationships are the result of learning processes that often happen automatically, you are not always aware of it.
Best regards
Catherine Barbara
Answered by
Dr Catherine Barbez
Clinical Psychology – Psychotherapy (Relationship and Family Therapy)
West Flanders University of Applied Sciences
Marksesteenweg 58 B-8500 Kortrijk
http://www.howest.be
Marksesteenweg 58 B-8500 Kortrijk
http://www.howest.be
.