Cognitive models of gambling and problem gambling

Abstract

Current research paints the picture of problem gambling as a multifaceted phenomenon, for which there is not one single explanation. A wealth of factors are implied in the development and maintenance of problem gambling, including biological mechanisms of rewardprocessing (e.g. Linnet et al., 2010a), cognitive processes of attention (e.g. Brevers et al., 2011), implicit memory (e.g. McCusker & Gettings, 1997), decision-making (e.g. Brevers et al., 2013) and beliefs (e.g. Myrseth et al., 2010), mechanisms underlying mood regulation (Brown et al., 2004) and coping styles (e.g. Gupta et al., 2004). Individual factors are thought to interact with the gambling environment and the larger social, professional and familial environment, adding to the complexity. Integrated models of problem gambling, such as the pathways model of Blaszczynski and Nower (2002), attempt to (re-)establish a holistic view in a research field that resorts to increasingly specific and intricate research designs. The underlying mechanisms and their interactions, however, are still not well understood (Gobet & Schiller, 2011).