Partial and variable reinforcement as applied to gambling
Gambling keeps people hooked because wins are unpredictable. Rewards that arrive randomly — not every time — make behaviour much harder to stop than rewards that always follow.
Real World
Slot machines operate on a variable-ratio schedule — a player might win after 5 spins, then not again for 50, making the behaviour extremely persistent, which is why the UK Gambling Commission reported slots cause the most problem gambling.
Exam Focus
Always name the specific schedule — 'variable-ratio' — and explain why it produces behaviour most resistant to extinction.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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