Learning Explanation for Gambling Addiction

• SLT - Vicarious Reinforcement


  The experience of seeing others being rewarded for their gambling, their pleasure and enjoyment as well as the occasional financial returns. This doesnt have to be direct observation of other peoples behaviour - newspapers, magazines and other media reports postiviely on big lottery winners or broadcast the glamour and excitement of horse-racing for example. This may be enough to trigger a desire for the same reinforcement in someone who hasn't gambled before.
• Operant Conditioning


  There are 2 types of reinforcement involved in gambling addiction:

  • Partial reinforcement - some behaviours being reinforced but not all. A person will continue to gamble because winning follows some bets but not others. A partial reinforcement schedule makes it difficult for gamblers to quit because of the uncertainty of reinforcement.
  • Variable reinforcement - behaviour being reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses. A person will continue to gamble because the uncertainty of when a pay-out is due keeps players playing.
• Classical Conditioning - Cue reactivity


  In the course of their gambling, an individual will experience many things that they associate with the exciting arousal experienced through gambling. For example, the atmosphere of the betting shop etc can all cue the arousal that the gambler craves. These low level reminder are difficult to avoid. These cues can both maintain gambling and cause its reinstatement after a period of abstinence.
• Strength of Learning explanations of gambling addiction

  Supporting research evidence from Parke and Griffiths who interviewed gambling addicts and found that they reported gambling as reinforcing because of the money, thrill and excitement. Addicts also reported that a sensation of a 'near miss' also encourages them to continue gambling. This suggests gambling behaviour is generally reinforced both by winning (positive reinforcement) and almost winning (partial reinforcement), making it highly addictive.
• Limitation of Learning Explanations of gambling addiction

  It cannot explain all types of gambling behaviour. According to learning theory; a reward needs to come shortly after a behaviour takes place for it to be reinforced. However, there is a long delay between placing a bet on a sports game and the outcome. Both behaviours are equally as addictive. This suggests that the principles of learning theory cannot explain all types of gambling addiction, weakening its validity as an explanation.
• Limitation of Learning explanations of gambling addiction

  Environmentally reductionist. Which is when an explanation inappropriately explains addiction through external factors. For example, learning theory does not take into account the physiological rewards experienced by gamblers such as the adrenaline and dopamine involved in the 'buzz' of winning. This suggests there are other biological factors involved in the reinforcing properties of gambling, weakening the usefulness of learning theory. For a holistic understanding, we need to look at both environmental and biological factors.
• Limitation of Learning explanations of gambling addiction

  Environmentally determinist. Which is when a theory suggests addictive behaviours are only caused by environmental factors. For example, although many people gamble at some time during their lives and experience the reinforcements associated with this behaviour, relatively few become addicts. This suggests individuals have an element of free will in whether they want to continue gambling, weakening the usefulness of the learning explanation.