Addiction

Question 0

How can Black et al be criticised?

Answer 0

The social learning theory would criticise this view because the theory would say that this is not because of genes but because of them learning the behaviour from their close relative.

Question 1

What did Black et al (2005) find out about the initiation of gambling?

Answer 1

That close relatives are more likely to suffer from pathological gambling than more distant relatives, suggesting that genes play a part in the initiation of gambling.

Question 2

Pathological gambling has been linked to under active pituitary adrenal responses, what did Paris et al do and find?

Answer 2

Paris et al compared the levels of cortisol of a pathological gambler before and after watching a video of their method of gambling and a neutral video. It was found that gamblers had no changes in cortisol levels compared to recreational gamblers, suggesting that an under active pituitary adrenal response may be to blame for gambling addiction.

Question 3

According to the biological approach, why are gamblers likely to relapse?

Answer 3

Gamblers are likely to relapse because of their proneness to boredom. A study found that pathological gamblers get bored easily and need constant stimulation and so find it hard to quit.

Question 4

The biological approach ignores environmental and situational factors, such as…
The approach is…

Answer 4

Factors such as social context, provision of alcohol

The approach is reductionist