Evaluating Behavioral Dimensions of Smoker Reward Perceptions
Open Access
- Author:
- Lavanier, Stephen Alexander
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Stephen Jeffrey Wilson, Thesis Supervisor
Kenneth N. Levy, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Nicotine
Cigarettes
Dependence
Rewards
Smoking
NDSS
BIS
SPSRQ
PANAS
Behaviors
Correlation
Impulsivity
Processing - Abstract:
- Nicotine is a very addictive component of cigarettes that can affect a smoker’s value system, such that he or she places a high priority on the opportunity to smoke a cigarette. As a result, the value of other types of rewards are diminished. Previous studies suggest that trait impulsiveness, levels of nicotine dependence, and the severity of the aversive affective symptoms produced by acute nicotine withdrawal all influence smoking behavior in important ways. While these factors have been examined separately, there has not been much research examining how these variables relate to one another. The aim of this thesis was to address the knowledge gap by exploring the associations among impulsivity, sensitivity to reward, affective state, and nicotine dependence. In the current study, participants were asked to answer questionnaires about their moods, attitudes, and habits of their smoking behaviors. Results indicate that significant correlations exist between a smoker’s mood and reward perception, impulsivity and reward perception, and higher levels of acting on impulse leading to lower levels of ability to inhibit impulses. Additionally, a correlation exists between smoking consistency and rigidity in regards to a smoker’s habits. Understanding reward processing for smokers can assist in determining different types of treatment methodologies that can be used for smokers attempting to quit in order to modify their smoking behaviors.