Addiction - learning theory of gambling Flashcards
How does positive reinforcement relate to gambling?
In gambling, rewards such as excitement (buzz), near-misses, social praise, or financial wins can are rewards which continue the gambling behaviour. (Griffiths, 2009)
How does negative reinforcement influence gambling?
Negative reinforcement is when a behaviour removes an unpleasant state. Gambling can serve as an escape from stress or anxiety, temporarily removing negative feelings and encouraging repeated gambling.
What is partial reinforcement and how does it apply to gambling behaviour?
Partial reinforcement is when rewards are given only some of the time. In gambling, wins occur irregularly (e.g. on fruit machines), which makes the behaviour more persistent and resistant to extinction than if the reward were given every time.
What is variable reinforcement and how does it affect gambling?
Variable reinforcement means rewards are given after an unpredictable number of actions. Gambling machines use a variable-ratio schedule (e.g., win after 2, then 6, then 4 tries). This unpredictability makes gambling behaviour very resistant to extinction.
Why is variable reinforcement more addictive than other schedules?
It creates uncertainty and anticipation. Because gamblers can’t predict when a win will come, they keep playing—even after many losses—hoping that a win will happen soon.
What is the Big Win Hypothesis?
Early experiences of a significant win or a winning streak can condition individuals to continue gambling in an attempt to recreate that initial ‘peak experience’.
What is a near miss and why is it reinforcing in gambling?
A near miss is a loss that closely resembles a win. It creates excitement and hope, encouraging the gambler to continue playing. Fruit machines may be designed to increase the frequency of near misses.
How does cue reactivity help maintain gambling addiction?
Stimuli associated with gambling (e.g., lights, sounds, free bets) become conditioned stimuli. They trigger arousal and cravings, reinforcing gambling behaviour through classical conditioning.
What is vicarious reinforcement in the context of gambling?
Observing others gain pleasure or rewards from gambling can encourage someone to start gambling themselves. This is stronger if the person identifies with the role model or sees gambling glamorized in media.
What is some research support for the learning theory of gambling addiction?
Dickerson observed gamblers in real-life environments and found that high-frequency gamblers were more likely to place bets in the last two minutes before a race, suggesting they delayed betting to prolong the excitement. This suggests that positive reinforcement (excitement from gambling) plays a significant role in maintaining gambling behaviour, particularly in high-frequency gamblers.
How is learning theory oversimplistic?
The learning theory fails to explain all types of gambling addiction, especially in skill-based games like poker, where the delay between betting and outcome complicates the conditioning process. Games like fruit machines, which rely on chance, are easier to explain through conditioning.
What type of gambling does the learning theory not explain? How?
Skill-based games like poker involve a delay between the bet and outcome, making it harder to apply conditioning theory. In contrast, games of pure chance, like fruit machines, have an immediate outcome, which makes conditioning easier to explain.
What is the problem with using learning theory to explain individual differences in gambling behaviour?
Griffiths (2001) argues that people have different responses to identical gambling stimuli, with some being more resistant to relapse than others. This suggests that learning theory cannot fully explain gambling addiction without considering personal and cognitive factors.
What are the two pathways to gambling addiction according to the learning theory? How does this challenge learning theory?
One pathway involves ‘behaviourally conditioned’ gamblers who are influenced by role models or peers, while the other involves ‘emotionally vulnerable’ gamblers who have anxiety or depression and use gambling to cope with negative emotions. The emotional vulnerability pathway suggests that gambling addiction may be driven by emotional needs (e.g., relief from anxiety or depression), which learning theory alone cannot explain, as it focuses on conditioning and reinforcement.
What is a limitation of learning theory? (Issues and debates)
The learning theory is reductionist as it doesn’t take into account cognitive explanations of gambling.
