Gambling Addiction- Learning Approach Flashcards
What does the learning approach suggest about gambling addiction?
- One of the main factors in beginning to gamble stems from vicarious reinforcement
- If higher status role models are seen to be gambling and enjoying the ‘thrill’, the behaviour appears acceptable and rewarding
- Leads to adolescents starting to gamble
What does cue reactivity suggest about gambling maintenance and who proposed it?
- Carter and Tiffany
- Claims triggers or cues in the environment that we have learnt to associate with gambling maintain the behaviour
- Through classical conditioning, these cues will elicit conditioned responses, even in the absence of the actual problematic gambling
What is the process of classical conditioning for gambling addiction?
Before:
Playing/winning a fruit machine (UCS) = feelings of excitement (UCR)
Fruit machine sounds/lights (NS)= no response
During:
Lights and sounds (NS) + winning (UCS)= excitement (UCR)
After:
Lights and sounds (CS)= excitement (CR)
What are partial reinforcement schedules?
- Used so that gambling behaviour is only rewarded on some occasions
- Means that gamblers can become obsessed with continued play to ‘chase the win’ so gambling becomes maladaptive behaviour
- Most effective type of partial reinforcement is a variable ratio reinforcement schedule
What are the variable reinforcement schedules?
- Fixed interval
- Fixed ratio
- Variable interval
- Variable ratio
What is a fixed interval reinforcement schedule?
- The 1st response after a given interval of time is reinforced
- E.g. rewards may be given after every 5 minutes of play on a fruit machine
What is a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule?
- Every nth response may be reinforced
- E.g. every 25th play
What is a variable interval reinforcement schedule?
- The 1st response after a given interval of time is reinforced, but this time interval varies
- Could be 5 minutes on 1 day but 25 minutes the next
What is a variable ratio reinforcement schedule?
- Every nth response is reinforced but the actual gap between reinforcement varies and can be quite large
- Most effective
If the point is:
A strength of the learning approach for gambling addiction is that there is experimental support that illustrates that gambling addiction may revolve around the need for positive reinforcements.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- Grant et al found that, in a sample of problem gamblers that relapsed, over 40% claimed they did so because they missed the ‘thrill’ or the ‘buzz’ of gambling.
Link- This suggests that the positive reinforcement linked to gambling is too much to resist.
If the point is:
A strength of the learning approach for gambling addiction is that it has led to some useful practical applications.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- Cue exposure therapy involves presenting the cue (e.g. a casino) to the individual and helping them control their reaction to it, such as developing coping strategies. In this way, the response of gambling in the presence of the cues fades away or extinguishes.
Explanation- This is thought to be more effective than simply trying to avoid the cues, for example, never drinking.
Link- This could imply that the learning theory of gambling is very useful in helping the 350,000 to 1.5 million gambling addicts in the UK overcome their addiction.
If the point is:
A weakness of the learning approach for gambling addiction is that there is evidence which suggests that perhaps gambling has its roots in our genes, and that this may contribute to pathological gambling more than the environment.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- Blum and Cummings identified that gamblers are far more likely to possess the A1DRD2 genetic variant, predisposing them to gambling. The results of a twin study by Shah et al using adults found strong evidence of genetic transmission of gambling in men. Black et al found that 1st degree relatives of pathological gamblers were more likely to suffer from gambling than distant relatives were.
Link- This could imply that gambling addiction also needs to take into account how peoples genetics may increase their vulnerability.
If the point is:
A weakness of the learning approach for gambling addiction is that there is contradictory evidence which highlights the limitations of the behavioural account of gambling addiction.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- Robinson and Berridge point out that many people try gambling yet do not become addicted despite the rewarding experiences, cues and vicarious reinforcement.
Explanation- This suggests that other factors must also be at work that allow some, yet not others, to become full blown gambling addicts.
Link- This suggests there is a theoretical flaw with the learning theory of gambling addiction.
What are the evaluation points for the learning approach for gambling addiction?
+ There is experimental support that illustrates that gambling addiction may revolve around the need for positive reinforcements
+ Led to some useful practical applications
— There is evidence which suggests that perhaps gambling has its roots in our genes and that this may contribute to pathological gambling more than the environment
— There is contradictory evidence that highlights the limitations of the behavioural account of gambling addiction
