EXPLANATIONS

Question 1

What is the behavioural explanation of ICD and NSAs? (Operant conditioning)

Answer 1

Operant conditioning: learning behaviours through rewards and punishments
–> Positive reinforcement: gambling - rewards after winning = pleasure = repeat compulsive behaviour in order to obtain the rewarding feeling again

Schedule of reinforcement: intermittent reinforcements - rewards are not always obtained

Question 2

Strengths of the behavioural explanation?

Answer 2

• Nurture: gambling - results from learning through experience - maladaptive behaviours can be unlearnt (e.g introduce punishments)

Question 3

Limitations of the behavioural explanation?

Answer 3

• Reductionist: focuses only on current observable behaviours (e,g gambling: the current feelings felt as they receive the reward (winning))- ignores other underlying factors that may influence the individual’s behaviours e.g past experiences,

Question 4

What is the cognitive explanation? (feeling states) Describe how the theory occurs

Answer 4

intense desire + Intense experience = feeling state
–> all the emotions, thoughts and physiological arousal felt leads to ICDs and cause obsessions

triggering event: intense desire + trigger

e.g pyromania: lighting things on fire + feeling like they are in control of the world = FS

triggering event: intense desire (lighting things on fire) + trigger (seeing things related to fire/things that can be set on fire)

Question 5

Strengths of the cognitive explanation?

Answer 5

• ## Holistic: considers thoughts, emotions, sensations of the individual that they associate with the behaviour (intense desire, experience, etc) + underlying factors for the intensity of the feeling

Question 6

Limitations of the cognitive explanation of ICDs and NSAs?

Answer 6

• Deterministic: disorder is explained only through the individual’s feeling states theory
• Individual explanation: assumes that the gambling behaviour is due to individuals own thoughts and emotions → risk of client blame, increases distress

Question 7

What is the biological explanation? (Noble et al)

Answer 7

Reward deficiency syndrome: less of reward gene - lack of A1 variant –> less satisfied with natural rewards = engage in behaviours that may increase dopamine levels - compulsive behaviours, addictive disorders

Question 8

Strengths of the biological explanation?

Answer 8

• Nature: due to our genetic predisposition (lack of A1 variant reward genes) - can take precautionary measures for early prevention
• Methods: objective method of data analysis - using scientific equipments - increases internal validity of the study

Question 9

Limitations of the biological explanation?

Answer 9

• Nature: ignores nurture/external factors - shared environment with parents with tendencies of addiction - influence how individuals with reward deficiency will behave - can be unclear the extent of whether it is nature or the nurture side of the debate
• Reductionist? Only due to factors that is out of our control thus making it hard for treatment
• Unclear cause - effect relationship