Behavioural Explanations for Gambling - Addiction

Question 1

How does Delabbro + Winefield help to explain initiation?

Answer 1

Small wins on the poker machines maintained response rates

= shows the effects of doom some etc

Question 2

How does the behavioural explanation explain maintenance?

Answer 2

OC: there is positive reinforcement as every win increases dopamine levels
OC: there is negative reinforcement - gambling can act as a distraction to other problems such as depression

Question 3

How does Delabbro and Winefield help to explain maintenance?

Answer 3

• Small wins maintained response rates = kept producing dopamine
• Larger wins disrupted response rates
  = regular normal wins maintain gambling

Question 4

How does the behavioural explanation explain relapse?

Answer 4

Addicts can react to things associated with their addiction in a similar way to the actual addiction it’s self
- gambling ques such as betting shops can create similar responses to that of the stimuli of gambling

Question 5

How does Blanchard et al help to explain relapse?

Answer 5

Heart rate responded of gamblers to 2 gambling audiotapes were significantly greater than those found for the controls
= stimuli associated with gambling may cause relapse as there is a clear response to it

Question 6

How does the behavioural explanation explain initiation?

Answer 6

OC: The initial gambling creates massive increases in dopamine so lots of positive reinforcement