Cogntive approach to addiction

Question 1

Gambling: imitation

Answer 1

Self medication - Gelkopf et al (2002) proposed individuals select a behaviour to treat a symptom, for example someone with money problems may choose gambling because it is perceived to increase income

Question 2

Gambling: maintenance

Answer 2

Irrational beliefs - gamblers faults (believing they have control). Griffiths (1994) compared 30 regular and 30 non-regular gamblers as they played the fruit machine. Regular gamblers believed they had control e.g. putting a quid in bluffs the machine

Question 3

Gambling: relapse

Answer 3

Recall bias and just world hypothesis - Blanco et al (2000) proposed recall bias which suggests gamblers exaggerate wins and ignore looses. The just world hypothesis suggests because they lost last time they may win this time.

Question 4

Gambling: research support

Answer 4

Li et al (2008) found that gamblers who gambled to escape life were also more likely to have other dependencies. They are also less likely to commit crime because they have other substitutes

Question 5

Gambling: problems of cause and effect

Answer 5

Becona et al (1996) found depression is evident in gamblers however this could be a cause or effect

Question 6

Gambling: problems with objective data

Answer 6

Davies (1992) found addicts describe their behaviour differently to different people. e.g. they may use language to exaggerate their lack of control.

Question 7

Smoking: initiation

Answer 7

Expectancy theory - Brandon et al (1990) proposed behaviour becomes an addiction because of its expectations. Kassel et al (2007) found adolescents smoke when in a bad mood because they expect it to increase their mood

Question 8

Smoking: maintenance

Answer 8

Automatic processing - as an addiction develops its influenced more by unconscious expectancies which explains the lack of control. Tate et al (1994) told smokers they wont experience any negative effects when quitting. They reported fewer symptoms

Question 9

Smoking: relapse

Answer 9

Costs and benefits - smokers perceptions of the costs and benefits affect their behaviour

Question 10

Smoking: loss of control evaluation

Answer 10

The expectancy theory doesn’t explain individuals loss of control

Question 11

Smoking: research support

Answer 11

Moolchan et al (2006) shoed nicotine patches were most effective when combined with CBT to change the expectancies of the behaviour

Question 12

Smoking: importance of expectancies

Answer 12

Juliana (2004) found smokers reported greater expectancies that cigarettes alleviate negative moods and cravings as well as weight control compared to nicotine replacements