Addictive behaviour-Gambling-Learning explanations

Addictive behaviour-Gambling-Learning explanations

1. AO1

   • Classical conditioning
     • An association develops between a stimulus and a response. An unconditioned stimulus may produce an unconditioned response. This can become associated with a second co-occuring event (for example, the Flashing Lights of fruit machine become a conditioned stimulus. The person has learned that the fruit machine produces a sense of excitement and is drawn to it)
     • Cue-reactivity theory
       • Research shows that when presented with a variety of cues associated with their problem behaviour, addicts show a distinct pattern of physiological and behavioural responses. In effect, addicts to things associated with their addiction in similar ways to how they react to the object of the addictive behaviour. In the case of gambling they might include betting-slips, betting shops and pages of newspapers displaying gambling odds
       • According to cue-reactivity theory, the mechanism underlying this behaviour is classical conditioning. Pavlov showed that a dog can be made to salivate to the sound of a bell once the bell has been paired with food. In addictive behaviour the experience of the craving is paired with the presence of the items associated with the behaviour
       • These paraphernalia are therefore able to elicit conditioned responses even in the absence of actual smoking or gambling behaviour (Carter & Tiffany 1999)
       • Tiffany (1995) Addiction related cues acting as conditioned stimulus are therefore thought to play an important role in the emergence and maintenance of addictive behaviours
   • Operant conditioning
     • Addicts change their behaviour in response to changes in the environment, such as rewards and punishments. These rewards and punishments can bring about change inmood or material changes. Skinner found that the behavioural change was greater if there was less reinforcement rather than more and this was even more so if the reinforcement was unpredictable. The most effective is variable ratio where reinforcement is given every so often on average
   • Observation
     • Sees addiction resulting from vicarious learnign where addictive behaviour is observed and imitated if the model is seen to receive some kind of reward for the behaviour The media is seen as a powerful source of social learning

2. AO2

   • Initiation
     • In terms of the learning model, the start of gambling behaviour can be explained similarly to the start of smoking or any other addictive behaviour. Initially, they person may see others winning on slot machines or even on the lottery. Their expectations of the win may drive them to place their first bet, begin playing the lottery, or using slot machines. Once they have started, the excitement they experience is associated with the whole gambling process, reinforcing the positive feelings that gambling produces.
       • This may be further reinforced by the occasional win, especially if there are early 'successes'. The gambler becomes addicted to the behaviour as this process continues. It is an easy addiction to start due to the availability of the opportunities. Ladouceur et al (1999) looked at gambling patterns in a number of different countries and found that pathological gambling (diagnosed extreme gambling) increased as the availability of gambling increased. However, a national study in Australia found although there were significant differences in access to gambling across states and territories, there were few overall differences in problem gambling. Also, the introduction of the National Lottery in the UK was feared to increase gambling problems but this hasn't been the case and a recent study suggests that the number of adults who play the lottery has dropped grin 65% to 57%
   • Maintenance
     • The gambler continues the addictive behaviour because the rewards they revive, be the monetary (from winning) or physical (from the excitement of gambling), are reliable and relatively easy to come by. Placing a bet provides the encouragement and reward to continue gambling. This constant association of excitement with gambling reinforces the relationship between the two. Gamblers don't win all the time, but this only makes the compulsion stronger. This is because gambling provides partial reinforcement, a schedule of reinforcement which produces very persistent learned behaviours.