Addiction: Explanations for Gambling Addiction - Learning Theory Flashcards
What happens when forming the addiction?
Observe a role model being rewarded for their gambling behaviour (vicarious reinforcement)
What could the rewards be for gambling behaviour?
Occasional wins
Financial returns
What don’t these observations have to be?
Direct
Can be through newspapers or magazines
What happens when maintaining the addiction?
Positive and negative reinforcements
Explain the positive reinforcements
Can be the reward of money
Buzz excitement
Gambling likely to be repeated to gain the same reward
Explain the negative reinforcements
Distract individual from anxieties of everyday life, continue to gamble to avoid negative consequence of anxiety
What is partial reinforcement?
Behaviour is reinforced only some of the time
If rewarded everytime they’re bored, only gamble sometimes, makes gambling more exciting
What is fixed rate?
Behaviour is reinforced a predictable amount of time
What is variable reinforcement?
Behaviour is reinforced an unpredictable amount of times
Highly more reinforcing as it is highly unpredictable and exciting
What doe variable reinforcement lead to?
Stronger and more persistent gambling behaviour
1 - Who research the learning theory?
Parke and Griffiths
1- What does their research support?
The idea that gambling is reinforced due to the money, thrill and excitemet
1 - However, what did they say?
The fact there is a sensation of a ‘near miss’ as well makes it reinforced even if there is a loss
1 - What is the link?
Supports the idea of partial and variable reinforcement making gambling highly addictive due to the predictability of winning ans the associated excitement
2 - What is a strength of the learning theory?
Practical applications
2 - What do the principles suggest?
Addiction is caused by pleasant associations between gambling and excitement, led to behavioural interventions such as aversion therapy
2 - What is aversion therapy?
Where gambling is re-associated with a negative stimulus (electric shocks) rather than pleasure
2 - What is the link?
Important part of applied psychology as it helps treat gambling addiction in the real world
3 - What is a drawback of the learning theory?
Environmental determinism
3 - What does it state?
An individual is controlled by reinforcements that causes behaviour.
E.g., if they’re rewarded, they will gamble again
3 - What does this neglect?
The role of free will and choice an individual has
E.g., person may choose not to gamble
3 - What is the link?
Learning theory doesn’t account for this. may not be a full explanation for gambling behaviour
