Spontaneous Recovery: Reflections of a Smoker

Definition: Spontaneous Recovery is the tendency of a learned behavior to recover from the extinction after a rest period. (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner 2009). In order to better understand this definition I had to do more reading on the basic principles of learning and behaviorism. The definition for learning is some experience that results in a relatively permanent change in the state in the learner. (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner 2009) In order for one to have a spontaneous recovery you must first have learned the habit, such as smoking. Next is the habitation, which is a general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner 2009) This would be the learned smokers getting use to the taste of nicotine, the smell of the smoke and ultimately the mood or mental state associated with the effects of the cigarette. I have been a smoker since I was about fourteen years old. At first I began smoking due to peer pressure. I was not truly addicted till the year 2003 when everyone I worked with would gather and smoke after out shift to relax and reflect on our night. In 2008 I quit smoking with the use of the medication called Chantix with complete success. Unfortunately, I picked it up again when I had a roommate move who smoked. Now even though I hadn’t smoked in over a year the craving came back, which was the spontaneous recovery. I hadn’t smoked In over a year and found myself under stress and quickly went back to the habit (habituation) of smoking again and have been doing so for the last year. Now, I find myself with another prescription for Chantix but I know that unless I control my urges after I quit. I will forever have the learned behaviorism of a smoker and must always remember that spontaneous recovery will be right around the corner if I allow myself to fall back into the habit of smoking.