B3 Behavioural addiction
Gambling: Shopping:
● cognitive approach – expectancy theory ● learning approach
○ initiation – cost-benefit analysis ○ initiation – role models guide on how to behave,
○ maintenance – irrational thoughts, cognitive vicarious reinforcement, role of celebrity and
biases, illusions of control, exaggeration of ability advertisements
○ cognitive bias in gambling ○ maintenance – association with excitement and
○ relapse – recall bias and overestimation of pleasure, adrenaline rush and rewards, positive
success reinforcement
○ relapse – cues associated with shopping are seen,
● learning approach advertisements, need to shop, relief from withdrawal
○ initiation – association between gambling and symptoms/negative reinforcement
pleasure/excitement therefore behaviour
strengthened ● cognitive approach – self-medication
○ maintenance – variable reinforcement schedules, ○ initiation – relief from boredom, psychological problem,
behaviour strengthened due to variable success distress, lack of self-esteem, excitement
○ relapse – cue reactivity, cues associated with ○ maintenance – reduction of anxiety associated with
behaviour increase likelihood of relapse, spending, continuation of boredom/anxiety relief
i.e. walking past betting shops, gambling advertisements. ○ relapse – withdrawal causes lack of
excitement/boredom, increase of anxiety
(due to financial worries), breakdown of coping strategies.
, Cognitive approach- Expectancy theory of gambling addiction
● The cognitive approach focuses on explanations about the way we think
● In expectancy theory, the ‘thinking’ is expectations people have about what will happen if they gamble
Initiation - cost-benefit analysis
● Weighing up perceived barriers/costs vs perceived benefits
● A person's decision to gamble depends upon their expectations of the future costs and
● benefits of their behaviour
● Potential costs- financial losses and anxiety
● Potential benefits- enjoyment, financial gain and a feeling of control.
● If benefits outweigh the costs then they are likely to gamble
Maintenance
● Expectations are not rational or logical because our cognitions can be biased and distorted
● Irrational thoughts- Addicted gamblers are guided by irrational thoughts about how probability, chance and luck
operate
● Cognitive biases-An addicted gambler's thinking is biased towards perceiving favourable outcomes.
● An example is the 'near miss' bias (gambler will view a loss as a near win rather than that they have lost)
● The near miss provides rewards (tension, excitement) that maintain gambling behaviour.
Gambling: Shopping:
● cognitive approach – expectancy theory ● learning approach
○ initiation – cost-benefit analysis ○ initiation – role models guide on how to behave,
○ maintenance – irrational thoughts, cognitive vicarious reinforcement, role of celebrity and
biases, illusions of control, exaggeration of ability advertisements
○ cognitive bias in gambling ○ maintenance – association with excitement and
○ relapse – recall bias and overestimation of pleasure, adrenaline rush and rewards, positive
success reinforcement
○ relapse – cues associated with shopping are seen,
● learning approach advertisements, need to shop, relief from withdrawal
○ initiation – association between gambling and symptoms/negative reinforcement
pleasure/excitement therefore behaviour
strengthened ● cognitive approach – self-medication
○ maintenance – variable reinforcement schedules, ○ initiation – relief from boredom, psychological problem,
behaviour strengthened due to variable success distress, lack of self-esteem, excitement
○ relapse – cue reactivity, cues associated with ○ maintenance – reduction of anxiety associated with
behaviour increase likelihood of relapse, spending, continuation of boredom/anxiety relief
i.e. walking past betting shops, gambling advertisements. ○ relapse – withdrawal causes lack of
excitement/boredom, increase of anxiety
(due to financial worries), breakdown of coping strategies.
, Cognitive approach- Expectancy theory of gambling addiction
● The cognitive approach focuses on explanations about the way we think
● In expectancy theory, the ‘thinking’ is expectations people have about what will happen if they gamble
Initiation - cost-benefit analysis
● Weighing up perceived barriers/costs vs perceived benefits
● A person's decision to gamble depends upon their expectations of the future costs and
● benefits of their behaviour
● Potential costs- financial losses and anxiety
● Potential benefits- enjoyment, financial gain and a feeling of control.
● If benefits outweigh the costs then they are likely to gamble
Maintenance
● Expectations are not rational or logical because our cognitions can be biased and distorted
● Irrational thoughts- Addicted gamblers are guided by irrational thoughts about how probability, chance and luck
operate
● Cognitive biases-An addicted gambler's thinking is biased towards perceiving favourable outcomes.
● An example is the 'near miss' bias (gambler will view a loss as a near win rather than that they have lost)
● The near miss provides rewards (tension, excitement) that maintain gambling behaviour.
