What is the behavioural explanation of ICD and NSAs? (Operant conditioning)
Operant conditioning: learning behaviours through rewards and punishments
–> Positive reinforcement: gambling - rewards after winning = pleasure = repeat compulsive behaviour in order to obtain the rewarding feeling again
Schedule of reinforcement: intermittent reinforcements - rewards are not always obtained
Strengths of the behavioural explanation?
- Nurture: gambling - results from learning through experience - maladaptive behaviours can be unlearnt (e.g introduce punishments)
Limitations of the behavioural explanation?
- Reductionist: focuses only on current observable behaviours (e,g gambling: the current feelings felt as they receive the reward (winning))- ignores other underlying factors that may influence the individual’s behaviours e.g past experiences,
What is the cognitive explanation? (feeling states) Describe how the theory occurs
intense desire + Intense experience = feeling state
–> all the emotions, thoughts and physiological arousal felt leads to ICDs and cause obsessions
triggering event: intense desire + trigger
e.g pyromania: lighting things on fire + feeling like they are in control of the world = FS
triggering event: intense desire (lighting things on fire) + trigger (seeing things related to fire/things that can be set on fire)
Strengths of the cognitive explanation?
- ## Holistic: considers thoughts, emotions, sensations of the individual that they associate with the behaviour (intense desire, experience, etc) + underlying factors for the intensity of the feeling
Limitations of the cognitive explanation of ICDs and NSAs?
- Deterministic: disorder is explained only through the individual’s feeling states theory
- Individual explanation: assumes that the gambling behaviour is due to individuals own thoughts and emotions → risk of client blame, increases distress
What is the biological explanation? (Noble et al)
Reward deficiency syndrome: less of reward gene - lack of A1 variant –> less satisfied with natural rewards = engage in behaviours that may increase dopamine levels - compulsive behaviours, addictive disorders
Strengths of the biological explanation?
- Nature: due to our genetic predisposition (lack of A1 variant reward genes) - can take precautionary measures for early prevention
- Methods: objective method of data analysis - using scientific equipments - increases internal validity of the study
Limitations of the biological explanation?
- Nature: ignores nurture/external factors - shared environment with parents with tendencies of addiction - influence how individuals with reward deficiency will behave - can be unclear the extent of whether it is nature or the nurture side of the debate
- Reductionist? Only due to factors that is out of our control thus making it hard for treatment
- Unclear cause - effect relationship
