Addiction explanations for GAMBLING addiction - LEARNING THEORY MR Flashcards
What does Social Learning Theory suggest gambling addictions start through?
Observing a role model being rewarded for gambling and imitating this gambling behaviour.
What is they key term for when we observe a role model being rewarded for behaviour e.g. gambling.
Vicarious reinforcement
Identify two rewards that an observer might see the role model getting for gambling?
Enjoyment/fun
Money from winning/financial rewards
Which theory argues that gambling addictions being formed due to observing a role model gambling and imitating their gambling behaviour?
Social Learning Theory
What is meant by direct observation of rewards from gambling?
Actually seeing someone gamble and be rewarded for it
What is meant by indirect observation of rewards from gambling?
Hearing about someone gambling and winning in newspapers, magazines or social media.
How are gambling addictions MAINTAINED according to the learning theory of gambling?
Through operant conditioning
Explain the role of operant conditioning in maintaining gambling addiction
Positive reinforcement - when the person wins money or gets a buzz from placing a bet this is rewarding so they repeat the gambling behaviour for same reward.
What two positive reinforcements does gambling provide?
The excitement of placing a bet or the money win its acts a reward
Why do positive reinforcements from gambling lead to the maintenance of a gambling addiction?
The individual will REPEATEDLY gamble to get the same reward (buzz or money)
How does negative reinforcement play a role in the maintenance of gambling behaviour?
If the person does not gamble they will experience withdrawal symptoms - REPEATDELY gambling means they avoid withdrawal symptoms.
OR
Gambling helps person avoid anxiety of everyday life
What is meant by ‘partial reinforcement’?
When the behaviour is reinforced SOME of the time rather than every time.
Why does partial reinforcement lead to gambling being highly addictive?
It makes gambling more exciting as it is unpredictable.
What is meant by ‘variable reinforcement’ as an example of partial reinforcement?
Behaviour is reinforced as unpredictable intervals e.g. every 2nd time then every 15th time.
What key term is being described “when behaviour is rewarded/reinforced in a predictable way e.g. a slot machine paying out every 5th time
Fixed rate reinforcement
State the two types of partial reinforcement
Fixed rate and variable reinforcement
Which type of partial reinforcement is addictive - fixed rate or variable?
Variable reinforcement
Which type of partial reinforcement does not lead to an addiction?
Fixed rate
TRUE OR FALSE:
Vicarious reinforcement is when behaviour is reinforced in an unpredictable way
FALSE the term being described is variable reinforcement.
OR
FALSE vicarious reinforcement is observing a role model being rewarded for their behaviour.
Which type of partial reinforcement makes gambling more exciting due to unpredictability?
Variable reinforcement
Describe partial reinforcement!
When behaviour e.g. gambling is reinforced only some of the time not every time
Why would rewarding gambling behaviour every time or at a fixed rate NOT be addictive?
It is predictable and boring.
Why does unpredictability of variable reinforcement make gambling addictive?
It creates more of a buzz
Finish the sentence
“According to social learning theory gambling addictions are formed through……”
Observing a role model being rewarded for gambling (vicarious reinforcement)
What two theories are involved in the LEARNING THEORY applied to gambling?
Social learning theory
Operant conditioning
How might gambling provide negative reinforcement?
By gambling it allows the person to avoid unpleasant things e.g. anxiety, boredom
Which key term is being described here:
When gambling is rewarding and so the individual repeats the gambling behaviour to get the same reward’
Positive reinforcement
Fixed rate and variable reinforcements are examples of which type of reinforcement:
a) Vicarious reinforcement
b) Negative reinforcement
c) Partial reinforcement
c) Partial reinforcment
Research to support the learning theory as an explanation of gambling addiction comes from who?
Parke and Griffiths
RTS the learning theory as an explanation of gambling addiction comes from Parke and Griffiths - what did they find?
Gambling is reinforced due to winning money but also near misses give a buzz/excitement which is also reinforcing.
What types of reinforcement does Griffiths and Parke’s research support?
Partial and variable reinforcement making gambling highly addictive
P: RTS the learning theory of gambling addiction comes from Parke and Griffiths E: who’s research suggests that gambling is is reinforced
E: due to winning money but also near misses give a buzz/excitement which is also reinforcing.
COMPLETE THE LINK for this PEEL
This supports the idea of partial and variable reinforcement in making gambling highly addictive due to the unpredictability of winning and the excitement associated with gambling.
Why does Parke and Griffiths research support the learning theory explanation of gambling addiction?
It supports the idea that the unpredictability of winning is reinforcing and therefore makes people gamble more leading to addiction.
What practical application comes from the learning theory to explain gambling addiction?
Aversion therapy
How does the practical application aversion therapy use the ideas from the learning theory?
The gambler will be given electric shocks and will associate gambling with this negative stimuli rather than pleasure/excitement
What does the practical application aversion therapy give to gambling addicts as a negative stimuli?
Electric shocks
What type of determinism is the learning theory to explain gambling criticized for?
Environmental determinism
Why is the learning theory to explain gambling addiction environmentally deterministic?
Because it argues that gambling addiction is controlled by rewards and it ignores free will.
Give an example of how the learning theory to explain gambling addiction neglects the role of free will?
It ignores the fact that some people may choose not gamble despite the buzz because they are aware they could lose money.
Through aversion therapy the gambler will learn to ________________ gambling with pain from shocks rather than pleasure/excitement
Re -associate
Aversion therapy helps the gambler to re-associate gambling with ____________ instead of ______________________
Electric shocks
Pleasure/excitement
Complete the missing part of the following PEEL
P: The learning theory to explain gambling addiction is criticised for environmental determinism.
E:
E: This neglects the role of free will and choice an individual has for example they may choose not to gamble despite the ‘buzz’ because of the money they could lose.
L: Therefore the LT can not be a full explanation of gambling behaviour.
It argues gambling is controlled by rewards e.g. if someone is rewarded with money or a buzz they will gamble again to get the same reward.
