Gambling Addiction Flashcards
Explain gambling initiation: modelling and reinforcement
Learning approach suggests one of the main factors in beginning to gamble stems from vicarious reinforcement (SLT)
- children imitate the legitimate gambling behaviours that are shown by powerful role models
- higher status role models gamble + enjoying thrill = behaviour acceptable, attractive, rewarding
= adolescents starting to gamble (progress to pathological gambling)
Explain cue reactivity in gambling maintenance
CÁRTER + TIFFANY
Calima triggers/ CUES in the env we have learnt to associate with gambling maintain behaviour
- these triggers are referred as CS
- through CC these cues (sounds/lights) will elicit conditioned responses even in the absence of the actual problematic drug
Explain partial and variable reinforcement schedules as a part of gambling maintenance
Operant conditioning a GAMBLING behaviour is reinforced either:
- EVERY TIME (continuous reinf)
- some of the time (PARTIAL reinf)
Gambling - partial reinforcement is generally used so that gambling behaviour is only rewarded on some occasions, not all
= gamblers become obsessed with continued ‘chase to win’
= gambling becomes maladaptive beh
- variable reinforcement schedule = MOST EFFECTIVE TYPE OF PARTIAL REI
What is meant by extinction in gambling maintenance
When association between CS and CR is broken
What is meant by generalisation in gambling maintenance
CR occurs to things that are associated with the CS (people/ other gamblers)
What is a fixed interval
Fixed time
- gambler wins after a fixed period of time
- reward given every 5 minutes
What is a fixed ratio
Fixed no of tries
- every nth response may be reinforced
( on fruit machine May play out every 10th game)
What is a variable interval
Various time gaps
- received reward after a variable period of time (1st response is reinforced but the interval changes)
- could be 5 minutes one day but the next day 10 minutes
What is a variable ratio
Every nth play is reinforced But there will be no regularity to the wind
- reward after 10th play but then 27th play…32nd play
- randomised
What are positive EV for gambling learning explanation
Experimental support That gambling revolves around need for positive reinf - GRANT found in sample of problem gamblers that relapsed, 40% claimed they did because they missed the immediate reinforcements (thrill)
Negative EV learning explanation of gambling
Contradictory evidence - limitations of behavioural account of gambling add
- ROBINSON + BERRIDGE point out that many people try gambling yet don’t become addicted despite rewarding experiences, cues and vicarious reinforcement
- suggests other factors must also be at work that allow some yet not others to become full blown GAMB addicts
= behavioural approach cannot account for indv diffs in gambling behav
Negative EV learning explanation of gambling
Contradictory evidence - limitations of behavioural account of gambling add
- ROBINSON + BERRIDGE point out that many people try gambling yet don’t become addicted despite rewarding experiences, cues and vicarious reinforcement
- suggests other factors must also be at work that allow some yet not others to become full blown GAMB addicts
= behavioural approach cannot account for indv diffs in gambling behav
Intro to cognitive explanation of gambling
Emphasises irrational thought processes
Gambling addicts are FAULTY INFO PROCESSORS - means they are making a series of misattributions/ biases about their addiction
FOR EXAMPLE - I hen they lose on a horse bet they may interpret this as a ‘near miss’ rather than a loss which may encourage further gambling
Explain gambling initiation - self medication beliefs
Cognitive approach believes that many addictions are created through self-medication
= addictive gambling has started to alleviate negative cognitive states (boredom, worries)
Gambling may also create a buzz of excitement that initially raises mood levels
Explain gambling maintenance and relapse - cognitive biases
Cognitive myopia (can’t see the future - short sightedness) suggests that gamblers focus on the immediate gratifying state far more than the long term consequences of heavy gambling (financial, social, family problems)
This is biased way of processing info, and suggests decision making is at fault
Irrational belief/ cognitive bias
Gambler’s Fallacy - mistaken notion that the odds for something with a fixed probability increase/ decrease depending upon recent occurrence
Ie - if you have 4 horse bets in a row - your luck is I’ll change next time OR on a roulette = it’s been 4x in a row - hence it must be black next time round
