Addiction: Explanations for Gambling Addiction - Learning Theory

Question 1

What happens when forming the addiction?

Answer 1

Observe a role model being rewarded for their gambling behaviour (vicarious reinforcement)

Question 2

What could the rewards be for gambling behaviour?

Answer 2

Occasional wins
Financial returns

Question 3

What don’t these observations have to be?

Answer 3

Direct
Can be through newspapers or magazines

Question 4

What happens when maintaining the addiction?

Answer 4

Positive and negative reinforcements

Question 5

Explain the positive reinforcements

Answer 5

Can be the reward of money
Buzz excitement
Gambling likely to be repeated to gain the same reward

Question 6

Explain the negative reinforcements

Answer 6

Distract individual from anxieties of everyday life, continue to gamble to avoid negative consequence of anxiety

Question 7

What is partial reinforcement?

Answer 7

Behaviour is reinforced only some of the time
If rewarded everytime they’re bored, only gamble sometimes, makes gambling more exciting

Question 8

What is fixed rate?

Answer 8

Behaviour is reinforced a predictable amount of time

Question 9

What is variable reinforcement?

Answer 9

Behaviour is reinforced an unpredictable amount of times
Highly more reinforcing as it is highly unpredictable and exciting

Question 10

What doe variable reinforcement lead to?

Answer 10

Stronger and more persistent gambling behaviour

Question 11

1 - Who research the learning theory?

Answer 11

Parke and Griffiths

Question 12

1- What does their research support?

Answer 12

The idea that gambling is reinforced due to the money, thrill and excitemet

Question 13

1 - However, what did they say?

Answer 13

The fact there is a sensation of a ‘near miss’ as well makes it reinforced even if there is a loss

Question 14

1 - What is the link?

Answer 14

Supports the idea of partial and variable reinforcement making gambling highly addictive due to the predictability of winning ans the associated excitement

Question 15

2 - What is a strength of the learning theory?

Answer 15

Practical applications

Question 16

2 - What do the principles suggest?

Answer 16

Addiction is caused by pleasant associations between gambling and excitement, led to behavioural interventions such as aversion therapy

Question 17

2 - What is aversion therapy?

Answer 17

Where gambling is re-associated with a negative stimulus (electric shocks) rather than pleasure

Question 18

2 - What is the link?

Answer 18

Important part of applied psychology as it helps treat gambling addiction in the real world

Question 19

3 - What is a drawback of the learning theory?

Answer 19

Environmental determinism

Question 20

3 - What does it state?

Answer 20

An individual is controlled by reinforcements that causes behaviour.
E.g., if they’re rewarded, they will gamble again

Question 21

3 - What does this neglect?

Answer 21

The role of free will and choice an individual has
E.g., person may choose not to gamble

Question 22

3 - What is the link?

Answer 22

Learning theory doesn’t account for this. may not be a full explanation for gambling behaviour