Dictionary

Conditioning in the context of addiction refers to the process by which an individual associates a pleasurable or reinforcing stimulus with a particular behavior, such as drug use. This association strengthens the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the future, leading to a cycle of addiction.

Conditioning can occur through classical conditioning (associating the drug with a pleasurable experience) or operant conditioning (associating drug use with rewards or avoiding negative consequences). This can result in an automatic or reflexive response to the conditioned stimulus, making it difficult for an individual to stop the addictive behavior.