cognitive theory

Subdecks (1)

The cognitive approach argues addictive behaviour cognitive biases. Cognitive bias is where a person’s thinking, memory and attentional processes are faulty leading an individual to make irrational judgements and poor decisions for example, continuing to gamble despite huge losses
Rickwood et all classifies cognitive biases into 4 categories
Skill bias
Ritual bias
Selective recall bias
Gamblers fallacy
Skill bias
overestimate their ability to influence random events believing they have special skills that make them more likely to win
e.g. skilled at choosing lottery number, more likely to gamble
Ritual bias
believe they have a greater chance of winning if they have engaged lucky rituals
e.g. blowing on dice, wearing certain item of clothing
Selective recall bias
remember wins but forget or minimise losses leading to gambling more
e.g. remember wins on scratch cards but not losses
Gamblers fallacy
distorted views about chance - run of losses must be followed by a win
e.g. lost 6 times and therefore can't lose again
Self- efficacy
refers to persons beliefs about control or lack of control over behaviour
low self - efficacy believe they cannot give up gambling as it's apart of them, leads to relapse
self-fulfilling prophecy - continues to gamble cause their beliefs cannot stop themselves, gambling to be reinforced as the relapse confirms their beliefs