[A] Learning approach to gambling

Question 1

[INITIATION] What does social learning theory suggest?

Answer 1

People want to gamble as they see others being rewarded with money when they win and want to receive the same reward.

Question 2

[INITIATION] How do children learn addictive behaviours?

Answer 2

Through observation of influential role models such as parents and peers.

Question 3

[INITIATION] What does classical conditioning suggest?

Answer 3

Individuals learn to associate positive or pleasant situations and moods with gambling.

Question 4

[INITIATION] How does operant conditioning use the buzz of winning?

Answer 4

As a reward or positive reinforcement.

Question 5

[INITIATION] What did Gupta find?

Answer 5

86% of children aged 9-14 who gamble regularly reported gambling with family members, and as age increases children tend to gamble more at friends’ homes and at school.

Question 6

[INITIATION] What is a problem with Gupta’s study?

Answer 6

It is correlational and therefore cause and effect cannot be established, and we do not know what other factors influenced the children to start gambling.

Question 7

[MAINTENANCE] Why are individuals said to continue gambling?

Answer 7

To experience the biological buzz and reward when they win.

Question 8

[MAINTENANCE] What has intermittent reinforcement been shown to produce?

Answer 8

Longer lasting acquisition of gambling.

Question 9

[MAINTENANCE] How may an individual be conditioned to gamble?

Answer 9

Cues are presented to them on a daily basis such as walking past a betting shop on the way home from work.

Question 10

[MAINTENANCE] What did Edelgard find?

Answer 10

The heart rate of pathological gamblers increased more when exposed to their preferred form of gambling than the heart rate of casual gamblers.

Question 11

[MAINTENANCE] What did Lambos et al find?

Answer 11

Peers and family members of problem gamblers are more likely to approve of gambling.

Question 12

[MAINTENANCE] What is a disadvantage of Edelgard’s research?

Answer 12

It does not explain why some manage to give up gambling even when exposed to cues.

Question 13

[RELAPSE] What does classical conditioning suggest?

Answer 13

Environmental cues present during the performance of gambling may become associated with the pleasure provided by gambling.

Question 14

[RELAPSE] What do cues act as?

Answer 14

Prompts which create a craving.

Question 15

[RELAPSE] How can returning to gambling after abstinence be explained?

Answer 15

In terms of cue reactivity, gamblers are always surrounded by reminders of their addictive behaviour.

Question 16

[RELAPSE] What did Rosenthal and Lesieur find?

Answer 16

Over 60% of pathological gamblers reported side effects when cravings were present.

Question 17

[RELAPSE] What did Wolfling et al find?

Answer 17

Pathological gamblers showed increased physiological arousal when presented with gambling cues.

Question 18

[RELAPSE] What supports the idea that cues are important parts of relapse?

Answer 18

The fact that cue avoidance is an effective intervention.

Question 19

[RELAPSE] What is a problem with the learning theory of gambling?

Answer 19

It is too simplistic.