Encouraging Gamblers to Think Critically Using Generalised Analytical Priming is Ineffective at Reducing Gambling
Tess Armstrong1, Matthew Rockloff2, Matthew Browne2
1School of Human, Medical, and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, 44 Greenhill Road, Wayville, SA, 5034, Australia.
Journal of Gambling Studies
|November 16, 2019
Summary
Encouraging analytical thinking did not reduce risky gambling beliefs or behaviors in electronic gaming machine players. In fact, critical thinking priming may increase positive gambling expectations, suggesting caution with such interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Gambling Studies
Background:
- Fallacious gambling beliefs often lead to risky decisions.
- Analytical thinking can reduce endorsement of non-evidence-based beliefs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if analytical thinking interventions alter gambling beliefs and simulated behavior in electronic gaming machine (EGM) gamblers.
- To assess the impact of analytical vs. neutral priming on gambling cognitions and actions.
Main Methods:
- 178 regular EGM gamblers were randomly assigned to analytical or neutral priming tasks.
- Participants completed gambling belief measures and played a simulated EGM game.
- Betting patterns (size, changes, persistence, losses) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Priming analytical thinking did not significantly change simulated gambling behavior or beliefs.
- Contrary to hypotheses, analytical priming may increase positive gambling outcome expectations.
- Altering bet frequency correlated with theoretical losses and irrational cognitions.
Conclusions:
- Generalized analytical thinking interventions may be ineffective for altering gambling beliefs and behavior.
- Critical thinking promotion in at-risk gamblers might be counterproductive.
- Interventions for safer gambling require careful design and implementation.
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