Explanations for Gambling Addiction - Cognitive Theory

Question 1

Outline the cognitive theory as an explanation for a gambling addiction. (6 marks)

Answer 1

Gambling addiction is a result of cognitive distortions and faulty thought processes. Gamblers show cognitive bias where a person’s thinking, memory and attentional processes are faulty, leading an individual to make irrational judgements and poor decisions. One example of cognitive bias is faulty beliefs of skills and judgement where gamblers overestimate the amount of control they have over the outcome. Another example is engaging in personal traits or ritual behaviours where they believe that they are more likely to win because they are lucky or due to superstition. Next, selective recall is where individuals are more likely to recall certain events better than other. Finally, faulty perceptions is where gamblers have distorted views about chance believe losing streaks can end.

Question 2

Discuss the cognitive theory as an explanation for a gambling addiction (3 X AO3)

Answer 2

Research to support the cognitive explanation of gambling comes from Griffiths who carried out a natural experiment on a sample of 30 regular gamblers comparing them to a control group of 30 occasional gamblers. They played on a fruit machine and were asked to ‘think aloud’ and verbalise their thought processes whilst playing and were interviewed afterwards. They found that regular gamblers saw themselves as ‘skilful’ at the fruit machine, made more irrational statements compared to occasional gamblers and were more likely to explain losses as ‘near wins’. This supports the cognitive explanation of gambling because it demonstrates the faulty thought processes and control that gamblers believe they have over a random event.

However, the use of ‘thinking aloud’ research has been questioned. This self report method is used in a lot of studies in to the cognitive explanation of gambling. Some psychologists believe that what people say in gambling situations does not necessarily represent what they really think. ‘Off the cuff’ remarks made whilst gambling may not reflect an addicts deeply-held beliefs about chance and skill. Therefore researchers may get misleading impression that gamblers’ thought processes are irrational when in fact they are not. Limiting the validity of the research used to support the cognitive explanation of gambling.

However, a strength of the cognitive theory as an explanation of gambling addiction is that it has practical applications. This is because the principles of the theory, that addiction is caused by cognitive biases and faulty though processes has led to the development of cognitive behaviour therapy. This is effective in treating behaviour by identifying and challenging the irrational and faulty thought processes that have lead an individual to gamble and changing them into rational and logical thought processes via disputing. Therefore, the cognitive explanation is an important part of applied psychology as it helps people overcome their gambling addiction in the real world.