Alex Hasson
Substance Abuse
September 13, 2017
Social Learning Theory of Addiction
Social Learning Theory centered on addiction is a combination of behavioral and cognitive
learning. It involves observing and mimicking in some cases the behaviors of those around you.
The treatment style tends to fall in the self-help groups where people can learn from others and
get healthy. The variables from different findings make this a testable theory for people who use
this theory. The reason I chose this theory was my intrigue of the idea of how people are
influenced by the world around them.
The theory of Social Learning came about in the 1960’s and 70’s.
1
The theory focuses on a
combination of behavioral and cognitive learning from those around us. This could be from
watching television, seeing parents, family or those in a higher elevated position above oneself.
2
The idea we pay attention at different ages to things such as our parents drinking or smoking and
we retain those images for years, and then those memories plays a role in the idea that our
