9990 · 1.3.2
Explanations of impulse control disorders flashcards
Revision flashcards for Cambridge 9990 Explanations of impulse control disorders (syllabus 1.3.2). Flip, recall, then mark a real past-paper question.
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Prefrontal cortex role?
Executive functions — planning, inhibiting inappropriate responses; damage or dysfunction linked to impulsive behaviour.
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Serotonin and impulsivity?
Low serotonin associated with poor behavioural inhibition — SSRIs sometimes reduce urges in ICDs and OCD-related impulsivity.
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Operant explanation?
Impulsive act followed by relief/pleasure = **negative reinforcement** of urge cycle; behaviour strengthened by consequence.
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Cognitive deficit account?
Poor **risk assessment**, planning, and delay of gratification — inability to weigh long-term costs against immediate urge.
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Diathesis-stress in ICD?
Biological vulnerability (low serotonin, PFC weakness) + stressor (financial pressure, boredom) triggers impulsive episode.
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Determinism issue?
Biological explanations risk **absolving responsibility** — legal and ethical debate over blame vs treatable dysfunction.
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What is the role of the mesolimbic pathway in the biological explanation of ICDs?
It is the brain's primary reward circuit. In ICDs, it is believed to be hijacked, with impulsive acts triggering a large dopamine release, leading to reinforcement, craving, and a cycle of addiction.
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How does negative reinforcement explain impulsive behaviour according to learning theory?
The individual performs the impulsive act (e.g., compulsive shopping, stealing) to escape or relieve an unpleasant internal state, such as anxiety, depression, or boredom. The removal of this negative feeling reinforces the behaviour.
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Define 'gambler's fallacy' in the context of cognitive explanations for ICDs.
An irrational belief that if an event has occurred frequently in the past, it is less likely to happen in the future (or vice versa), despite the events being statistically independent. For example, believing a roulette wheel is 'due' to land on red after a series of blacks.
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What is a 'variable ratio schedule of reinforcement'?
A principle of operant conditioning where a reward is given after an unpredictable number of responses. This schedule makes behaviours highly resistant to extinction and is a key reason why gambling is so addictive.
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What is the 'illusion of control' in relation to ICDs?
A cognitive bias where an individual overestimates their personal ability to influence or control the outcome of events that are actually determined by chance. This is a common faulty thought process in problem gamblers.
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What did Grant et al.'s research on opiate antagonists for gambling disorder find?
They found that opiate antagonists like naltrexone significantly reduced gambling urges and behaviour compared to a placebo. This supports the biological explanation by suggesting the brain's opioid/reward system is involved in the pathology of gambling disorder.
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What is covert sensitisation and how is it used for ICDs?
A cognitive-behavioural therapy technique where the client imagines the impulsive behaviour (e.g., stealing) and then immediately imagines a highly unpleasant consequence (e.g., being arrested, public shame). The goal is to create a conditioned aversion to the impulsive act.
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What is the 'near miss' cognitive bias in gambling?
The tendency for gamblers to interpret outcomes that were close to a win (e.g., two out of three symbols matching on a slot machine) as encouraging, increasing their belief in their skill and motivating them to continue playing, despite it being a loss.