Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
06:01
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers
Published on: November 9, 2019
Attentional bias in problem gambling: a systematic review
Audhild Hønsi1, Rune Aune Mentzoni, Helge Molde
1Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgt 12, 5020, Bergen, Norway.
Journal of Gambling Studies
|May 31, 2012
Summary
Pathological gamblers show an attentional bias toward gambling stimuli, similar to substance users. Further research is recommended to refine measures and explore therapeutic interventions for attentional bias in gambling disorder.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Studies
Background:
- Attentional bias is well-documented in chemical addictions, where individuals readily notice substance-related cues.
- However, less is understood about attentional bias in pathological gambling.
Purpose of the Study:
- This systematic review examines the empirical evidence for attentional bias in problem and pathological gamblers.
- To synthesize current findings and identify research gaps.
Main Methods:
- A literature search identified eleven relevant empirical studies.
- These studies were systematically evaluated for their findings on attentional bias in gambling.
Main Results:
- Problem and pathological gamblers generally exhibit attentional bias towards gambling-related stimuli.
- This bias was observed across various measurement paradigms, though some studies reported null findings.
Conclusions:
- Attentional bias is a relevant cognitive factor in pathological gambling.
- Future research should focus on improving measurement validity, incorporating craving levels, and considering gambling severity and preference.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bias
Bias refers to any tendency that prevents a question from being considered unprejudiced. In research, bias occurs when one outcome or answer is selected or encouraged over others in sampling or testing. Bias can occur during any research phase, including study design, data collection, analysis, and publication.
In statistics, a sampling bias is created when a sample is collected from a population, and some members of the population are not as likely to be chosen as others (remember, each member...
In statistics, a sampling bias is created when a sample is collected from a population, and some members of the population are not as likely to be chosen as others (remember, each member...
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
01:25Motivational Bias
Cognitive bias results from limitations in thinking and information processing, leading to systematic errors in judgment. Conversely, motivational bias stems from personal desires or emotions, causing distortions in perception to align with self-interest. Motivational bias influences how individuals perceive and attribute causes to events, often shaped by personal needs, goals, and self-esteem preservation. This bias can distort judgment, leading to inaccurate assessments of success, failure,...
02:07Blind Procedures
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which child was...