Psychology B3 - non-substance related addiction

Question 1

expectancy theory

Answer 1

-where people’s thinking is expectations of what will happen when they gamble

Question 2

1. initiation of gambling

Answer 2

-decision depends on expectation of future costs and benefits
-costs = financial loss, anxiety
-benefits = financial gain, control
-expects benefits to outweigh costs

Question 3

2. maintenance of gambling

Answer 3

-someone gambling continues despite costs
-expectations = not rational/ logical, biased and distorted
-5 explanation

Question 4

explanation one: irrational thoughts

Answer 4

-guided by thoughts about how luck, probability and chance operate

Question 5

explanation two: gamblers fallacy

Answer 5

-mistaken belief that if something happens more often, it will happen less in future
-probability of coin landing on tails = 50%, believe that it will land on tails again (4x before) or heads next

Question 6

explanation three: cognitive biases

Answer 6

-addicted gambler’s thinking = biased towards positive outcome
-‘near miss bias’ = feel as though they’ve almost won

Question 7

explanation four: illusion of control

Answer 7

-belief that they can influence outcome
-superstitious behaviour, i.e piece of clothing
- think they have special knowledge - experts

Question 8

explanation five: exaggeration of ability

Answer 8

-gambler = unlikely to admit that a game of poker was too hard, viewed as weak
-some like to show off

Question 9

3. relapse of gambling

Answer 9

-addicted gambler = high relapse risk
-memory = self-serving
-recall successes and enjoyment, overestimate benefits
-recall bias = forget failures/losses
-biased cost-benefit analysis – continue to gamble, deserve to win

Question 10

Griffiths’ (1994) - the role of cognitive bias and skill in fruit machine gambling: aim

Answer 10

-investigate cognitive bias in 30 regular and 30 non-regular gamblers

Question 11

Griffiths’ (1994): method

Answer 11

-given £3 to play machine in arcade for 60 gambles
-aim to win back original stake
-once reached 60 gambles, could take money or keep gambling

Question 12

Griffiths’ (1994): findings

Answer 12

-regular gamblers = made more irrational comments (cognitive biases), believed they were skilful, more likely to keep gambling after 60 gambles

Question 13

Griffiths’ (1994): conclusion

Answer 13

-gamblers more likely to demonstrate cognitive distortions - illusion of control
-believed they were familiar with specific machines, more likely to win
-distorted views of reality

Question 14

research evidence to support
(evaluation)
+

Answer 14

-Griffiths’ (1994) study
-high ecological validity, easily generalise findings into real-life experiences

Question 15

sample size/technique
(evaluation)
-

Answer 15

-used snowball sample - recruiting gamblers from other gamblers
-sample = not representative
-cognitive distortions of majority of gamblers = not explained

Question 16

cannot fully explain link
(evaluation)
-

Answer 16

-‘expectancy theory’ cannot fully explain link between cognitions and gambling
-majority have distorted thoughts about gambling - very few who take up gambling become addicted
- 1-3% of gamblers have difficulty regulating behaviour
-inconclusive explanation

Question 17

effective treatments
(evaluation)
+

Answer 17

-effective treatments based on cognitive approach - cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
-can directly challenge gambler’s cognitive biases and irrational thoughts with rational ways of thinking