Cognitive Explanations for Gambling - Addiction

Question 1

How can self-medication explain initiation?

Answer 1

• Individuals may turn to gambling as they perceive this to reduce/treat their psychological symptoms
• Gambling can be believed to control depression when winning and distract from everyday life

Question 2

How does Biddle help to explain initiation?

Answer 2

28% of veterans studied reached the criteria fro problem gambling
- escape problems in their life = turned to gambling as a way to self-medicate as there was no help from the state

Question 3

How can self-medication explain maintenance?

Answer 3

• If gambling reduces depressive symptoms individuals will then gamble as much as possible to achieve the same effect
• Try to win as much as possible to feel good + reduce depression
• The losses may make them feel worse causing them to gamble more and more to increase their wins

Question 4

How does Thomsen et al help to explain maintenance?

Answer 4

• Worse gambling behaviours were found in those with high levels of depression than low; in terms of urge, excitement, no. of games played and duration.
  = play more to reduce depressive symptoms

Question 5

How can self medication help to explain relapse?

Answer 5

• If the individual falls back into depression gambling may be the only option the they feel will work to help

Question 6

How does Thomsen and Biddle help to explain relapse?

Answer 6

Due to disorders causing people to turn to gambling any time these may develop again gamblers may seek to gamble again