Addiction explanations for GAMBLING addiction - LEARNING THEORY MR

Question 1

What does Social Learning Theory suggest gambling addictions start through?

Answer 1

Observing a role model being rewarded for gambling and imitating this gambling behaviour.

Question 2

What is they key term for when we observe a role model being rewarded for behaviour e.g. gambling.

Answer 2

Vicarious reinforcement

Question 3

Identify two rewards that an observer might see the role model getting for gambling?

Answer 3

Enjoyment/fun
Money from winning/financial rewards

Question 4

Which theory argues that gambling addictions being formed due to observing a role model gambling and imitating their gambling behaviour?

Answer 4

Social Learning Theory

Question 5

What is meant by direct observation of rewards from gambling?

Answer 5

Actually seeing someone gamble and be rewarded for it

Question 6

What is meant by indirect observation of rewards from gambling?

Answer 6

Hearing about someone gambling and winning in newspapers, magazines or social media.

Question 7

How are gambling addictions MAINTAINED according to the learning theory of gambling?

Answer 7

Through operant conditioning

Question 8

Explain the role of operant conditioning in maintaining gambling addiction

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What two positive reinforcements does gambling provide?

Answer 9

The excitement of placing a bet or the money win its acts a reward

Question 10

Why do positive reinforcements from gambling lead to the maintenance of a gambling addiction?

Answer 10

The individual will REPEATEDLY gamble to get the same reward (buzz or money)

Question 11

How does negative reinforcement play a role in the maintenance of gambling behaviour?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What is meant by ‘partial reinforcement’?

Answer 12

When the behaviour is reinforced SOME of the time rather than every time.

Question 13

Why does partial reinforcement lead to gambling being highly addictive?

Answer 13

It makes gambling more exciting as it is unpredictable.

Question 14

What is meant by ‘variable reinforcement’ as an example of partial reinforcement?

Answer 14

Behaviour is reinforced as unpredictable intervals e.g. every 2nd time then every 15th time.

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Fixed rate reinforcement

Question 16

State the two types of partial reinforcement

Answer 16

Fixed rate and variable reinforcement

Question 17

Which type of partial reinforcement is addictive - fixed rate or variable?

Answer 17

Variable reinforcement

Question 18

Which type of partial reinforcement does not lead to an addiction?

Answer 18

Fixed rate

Question 19

TRUE OR FALSE:
Vicarious reinforcement is when behaviour is reinforced in an unpredictable way

Answer 19

FALSE the term being described is variable reinforcement.
OR
FALSE vicarious reinforcement is observing a role model being rewarded for their behaviour.

Question 20

Which type of partial reinforcement makes gambling more exciting due to unpredictability?

Answer 20

Variable reinforcement

Question 21

Describe partial reinforcement!

Answer 21

When behaviour e.g. gambling is reinforced only some of the time not every time

Question 22

Why would rewarding gambling behaviour every time or at a fixed rate NOT be addictive?

Answer 22

It is predictable and boring.

Question 23

Why does unpredictability of variable reinforcement make gambling addictive?

Answer 23

It creates more of a buzz

Question 24

Finish the sentence
“According to social learning theory gambling addictions are formed through……”

Answer 24

Observing a role model being rewarded for gambling (vicarious reinforcement)

Question 25

What two theories are involved in the LEARNING THEORY applied to gambling?

Answer 25

Social learning theory
Operant conditioning

Question 26

How might gambling provide negative reinforcement?

Answer 26

By gambling it allows the person to avoid unpleasant things e.g. anxiety, boredom

Question 27

Which key term is being described here:
When gambling is rewarding and so the individual repeats the gambling behaviour to get the same reward’

Answer 27

Positive reinforcement

Question 28

Fixed rate and variable reinforcements are examples of which type of reinforcement:
a) Vicarious reinforcement
b) Negative reinforcement
c) Partial reinforcement

Answer 28

c) Partial reinforcment

Question 29

Research to support the learning theory as an explanation of gambling addiction comes from who?

Answer 29

Parke and Griffiths

Question 30

RTS the learning theory as an explanation of gambling addiction comes from Parke and Griffiths - what did they find?

Answer 30

Gambling is reinforced due to winning money but also near misses give a buzz/excitement which is also reinforcing.

Question 31

What types of reinforcement does Griffiths and Parke’s research support?

Answer 31

Partial and variable reinforcement making gambling highly addictive

Question 32

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

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Why does Parke and Griffiths research support the learning theory explanation of gambling addiction?

Answer 33

It supports the idea that the unpredictability of winning is reinforcing and therefore makes people gamble more leading to addiction.

Question 34

What practical application comes from the learning theory to explain gambling addiction?

Answer 34

Aversion therapy

Question 35

How does the practical application aversion therapy use the ideas from the learning theory?

Answer 35

The gambler will be given electric shocks and will associate gambling with this negative stimuli rather than pleasure/excitement

Question 36

What does the practical application aversion therapy give to gambling addicts as a negative stimuli?

Answer 36

Electric shocks

Question 37

What type of determinism is the learning theory to explain gambling criticized for?

Answer 37

Environmental determinism

Question 38

Why is the learning theory to explain gambling addiction environmentally deterministic?

Answer 38

Because it argues that gambling addiction is controlled by rewards and it ignores free will.

Question 39

Give an example of how the learning theory to explain gambling addiction neglects the role of free will?

Answer 39

It ignores the fact that some people may choose not gamble despite the buzz because they are aware they could lose money.

Question 40

Through aversion therapy the gambler will learn to ________________ gambling with pain from shocks rather than pleasure/excitement

Answer 40

Re -associate

Question 41

Aversion therapy helps the gambler to re-associate gambling with ____________ instead of ______________________

Answer 41

Electric shocks
Pleasure/excitement

Question 42

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.

Answer 42

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.