A discussion of the relative contribution of classical and operant conditioning towards problematic gambling.

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Abstract A from of addictive behaviour touches a large portion of families either directly or indirectly. One such addiction is gambling. Gambling, when it reaches a compulsive and problematic stage is tantamount to both finical and emotional ruin for the gambler and the dear ones of that individual. Problem gambling affects approximately six (6) percent of adults in developed nation’s world wide. Both classical and operant conditionings are causes of problematic gambling. Through the theories devised by Pavlovian and Skinnerian, gambling is said to be caused by these two conditionings. According to Shaffer, Hall, & Vander Bilt (1999), pathological gambling; defined as ‘persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour characterized by an inability to control gambling, leading to significant deleterious psychosocial consequences: personal, familial, financial, professional and legal (APA 1994), affects approximately 1.6% of the adult population. A disproportion of those affected are younger males. Despite the odds and the gambling awareness campaigns, these individuals in developed society engage in what is defined as problematic gambling. The stimulus which encourages such behaviour can be related to two psychological theories. The theories developed by Pavlovian and Skinnerian discuss the concepts of classical conditioning and operant conditioning respectively. It is believed that both these forms of conditioning can contribute to the compulsiveness of a problem gambler through various forms of stimulus. The following will discuss both the theories and through definition of problematic gambling, apply each theory to the rudimentary behaviour of a problem gambler and in doing so consider the relative contribution each has. Problem gambling is classified as the situation when a gambling activity gives rise to harm to the

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