ABSTRACT
Pathological and nonpathological gamblers completed a task that assessed preference among 2 concurrently available slot machines. Subsequent assessments of choice were conducted after various attempts to transfer contextual functions associated with irrelevant characteristics of the slot machines. Results indicated that the nonproblem gambling group, but not the problem gambling group, increased their responding toward the slot initially trained as greater than following the initial training procedure, then decreased their responding toward that slot following the reversal phase.
Subject(s)
Behavior Control/methods , Choice Behavior , Gambling/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Cues , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychomotor PerformanceABSTRACT
Adolescent problem gambling is a growing cultural concern and this paper reviews the various research findings and treatment options that are available. Scientists have discovered a number of biological factors that may contribute to the development of adolescent gambling, including specific brain states, neurochemical levels, physiological arousal tendencies, and genetic predispositions. Additionally, a number of psychological processes have been revealed, including the need to escape from psychological stress, the possession of certain cognitive fallacies, and the construction of incorrect rules about the gambling event itself. Effective treatment can be developed through the incorporation of empirically-based research into the clinical approach. Current treatment options include pharmaceutical prescriptions, changing cultural practices, and the delivery of psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral therapy models. An analysis of the gap between science and practice is described, and possible solutions to bridge this gap are provided.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Behavior, Addictive/epidemiology , Gambling , Adolescent , Behavior Therapy , Behavior, Addictive/drug therapy , Behavior, Addictive/etiology , Behavior, Addictive/therapy , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Humans , Models, Psychological , Psychotherapy , Risk Factors , Stress, Psychological , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The current study evaluated the effect of participating in simulated gambling activities on happiness levels of 3 nursing home residents. A 4-component analysis was used to measure objective responses associated with happiness during baseline, varying durations of engagement in simulated gambling activities, and 2 follow-up periods. Results indicated that all residents exhibited a higher percentage of happiness levels while engaged in simulated gambling activities compared with baseline. Follow-up assessment took place 10 min and 30 min following the intervention; no lasting effects were observed.
Subject(s)
Gambling , Geriatric Assessment , Happiness , Nursing Homes , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Social EnvironmentABSTRACT
This study investigated the potential for recreational gamblers to respond as if certain types of losing slot machine outcomes were actually closer to a win than others (termed the near-miss effect). Exposure to conditional discrimination training and testing disrupted this effect for 10 of the 16 participants. These 10 participants demonstrated high percentages of conditional discrimination testing performance, and the remaining 6 participants failed the discrimination tests. The implications for a verbally based behavioral explanation of gambling are presented.