Explanations for gambling - learning theory

• vicarious reinforcement:

  • seeing others being rewarded for gambling (pleasure + finance)
  • newspapers, magazines, media
  • explains the initiation of gambling addiction
• Operant Conditioning:

  • Positive reinforcement - direct gain from the rewards of gambling (excitement, money)
  • Negative reinforcement - when gambling offers a distraction from aversive stimuli (anxiety)
  • Best explains the maintenance of an addition
• Partial Reinforcement:

  • Some behaviours being reinforced leading to a person continuing to gamble because winning follows some bets but not others
  • A partial reinforcement schedule makes it difficult for gamblers to quit
  • This makes extinction less likely
• Variable Reinforcement:

  • Behaviour being reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses causing a person to continue to gamble as they may win or may not
  • Uncertainty of when a pay out keeps players playing
  • This makes extinction the least likely
• Classical Conditioning - Cue Reactivity

  • Secondary reinforces associated with the exciting experience through gabbling (bars, music, people, shop)
  • These low level reminders are difficult to avoid
  • These cues can both maintain gambling and cause relapse
• Evaluation for learning theory as an explanation of addiction:

  (P) supporting research evidence

  (E) Parke + Griffiths (2004)

  (E) interviewed gambling addicts and found they reported gambling as reinforcing because of the money and excitement. Addicts also reported the sensation of a near miss encourages them to continue gambling

  (L) suggesting gambling is generally reinforced by winning (positive reinforcement) and nearly winning (partial reinforcement), making it highly addictive
• Evaluation for learning theory as an explanation of addiction:

  (P) environmentally reductionist

  (E) when an explanation only focuses on external factors and ignores other important factors

  (E) learning theory does not take into account the physiological rewards experienced by gamblers such as dopamine

  (L) suggesting other biological factors involved in the reinforcing properties of gambling, weakening the usefulness of learning theory
• Evaluation for learning theory as an explanation of addiction:

  (P) cannot explain all types of gambling behaviour

  (E) according to the learning theory, a reward needs to come shortly after a behaviour takes place for it to be reinforced

  (E) fruit machines will have a short delay between gambling and the outcome. In contrast, there is a long delay between placing a bet on a football game and the outcome. However, both are equally as addictive

  (L) suggesting the principles of learning theory cannot explain all types of gambling addiction, weakening its validity