Evaluation of Cognitive Theory (A2 only)
Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 17.1.7
Strengths of the Cognitive Theory of Gambling Addiction
The cognitive theory believes gambling addiction is due to cognitive distortions, which in gamblers are faulty thinking patterns whereby they believe themselves to have illusory control over games of luck.
Griffiths (1994)
- Firstly, there are studies, such as Griffiths (1994) which provide evidence that gamblers have cognitive distortions compared to occasional gamblers.
- These distortions include illusions of control, where the gamblers believe themselves to be more skilful than non-gamblers.
Henslin (1967)
- Secondly, other studies have also made similar conclusions.
- Henslin (1967) studied craps players in a casino.
- Craps is a game of luck where players must roll a dice and get a specific number to win.
- Henslin found that gamblers tended to throw the dice harder to roll a higher number.
- This demonstrates illusion of control.
Strickland et al. (1966)
- Finally, a third study by Strickland et al. (1966) also showed evidence of cognitive biases.
- He found that craps players were more likely to place higher bets when they were able to roll the dice themselves.
- This showed that gamblers believed that they had ‘the skill’ to roll the dice correctly to win (illusion of control).
Weaknesses of the Cognitive Theory of Gambling Addiction
The cognitive theory believes gambling addiction is due to cognitive distortions, which in gamblers are faulty thinking patterns whereby they believe themselves to have illusory control over games of luck.
Individual differences
- The cognitive approach does not take into account individual differences.
- It tries to explain all gambling addiction as due to cognitive distortions (nomothetic).
- But there could be other reasons, such as genetics or biochemical, that cause people to become addicted to gambling.
Causality
- Secondly, it is important to point out that the cognitive distortions may not cause addiction.
- In other words, the causality of distortions has not been established.
- There is definitely a correlation between cognitive biases and gambling addiction, but the cause-and-effect relationship is difficult to prove.
- It may be that gambling causes cognitive distortions rather than the reverse.
Limitations
- Finally, the cognitive approach is useful in explaining gambling addiction.
- But the approach does not lend itself to explain other addictions such as smoking, drug, or alcohol addictions.
- These addictions seem to be explained better by the genetic or brain neurochemistry approaches.
- They do not seem to be explained by faulty thinking processes.
Test yourself on Evaluation of Cognitive Theory (A2 only)
Which of the following has NOT conducted research into cognitive biases in gamblers?
Which gambling game did Henslin (1967) study in a casino?
Who found that gamblers were more likely to place higher bets when they were able to roll the dice themselves?
The cognitive approach is only useful in explaining which addiction?
What is a weakness of the cognitive approach to explaining gambling addiction?