Marcus is addicted to codeine, a prescription opioid painkiller, just like his older brother. When Marcus was younger, he observed his brother take the medicine after a sports injury. His brother was often highly stressed and in pain until he took the liquid, which immediately made him look relaxed and stress-free.
When Marcus first tried codeine, he felt a warm, euphoric glow and a complete escape from academic stress. He started taking it every Friday night in his bedroom while listening to a specific ambient playlist, and now he feels an overwhelming urge to take codeine whenever that playlist starts playing. He also notices that he now needs three times the initial dose to get the same feeling of relaxation.
Additionally, Marcus hangs out with a group at university who regularly share codeine-infused drinks at parties; they mock those who refuse and praise Marcus when he brings premium cough syrups. If Marcus tries to go a few days without codeine, he experiences severe muscle aches and intense irritability.
Discuss how far one learning explanation can account for Marcus's addiction to codeine.
You must make reference to the context in your answer.
84 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Psychology Content, covering Issues around drug taking, Biological explanations of drug addiction, Learning explanations of drug addiction, Treatments for drug addiction, Anti-drug campaign and strategies, Individual differences, and Developmental psychology. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.