Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Engaging in "illusory control" during repeated risk-taking

M R Dixon1, L J Hayes, R E Ebbs

  • 1University of Nevada, USA. mdixonts@aol.com

Psychological Reports
|January 29, 1999
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Incidence of West Nile virus infection in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area during the 2012 epidemic.

Epidemiology and infection·2016
Same author

The "It" that is steady in steady states.

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

The psychological present.

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

A self-capitalization model for building behavior analysis graduate programs.

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

The inhibition of adenylate cyclase in equine platelets by collagen and by platelet-activating factor.

Platelets·2010
Same author

The role of primary tumour resection in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer.

Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland·2007
Same journal

A Scoping Review of Nonverbal Synchrony Between Individuals With Social Anxiety and Others.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

Finding Freudenfreude: Deriving Subjective Well-Being From Passive Observation of a Relational Tie's Happiness via Social Media Post.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Flourishing and Quality of Life as Indicators of Psychological Well-Being in Adults.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

Understanding Love in Couple Relationships: A Scoping Review of Sternberg's Triangular Theory.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

Psychological Impacts of Instagram Use: The Interplay of Social Comparison, Self-Esteem, and Anxiety.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

The Effect of Self-Compassion on Shame in Post-Event Processing.

Psychological reports·2026
See all related articles

Gamblers may continue playing games of chance, like roulette, because they believe they can influence random outcomes. Participants paid more for illusory control, especially when winning, suggesting perceived control drives continued gambling behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Economics
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Gambling Research

Background:

  • Risk-taking behavior is common in games of chance.
  • Individuals often perceive control over random outcomes.
  • Understanding the psychological drivers of gambling is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extent to which gamblers will pay for illusory control.
  • To examine the relationship between perceived control and gambling behavior.
  • To explore psychological factors influencing continued gambling despite unfavorable odds.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited five undergraduate roulette players.
  • Assessed willingness to pay for illusory control (choosing numbers).
  • Analyzed the relationship between payment for control and player winnings.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • All participants paid for illusory control over roulette outcomes.
  • The amount paid was linearly related to the player's winnings.
  • Perceived control was a significant factor in participants' engagement.

Conclusions:

  • The desire for illusory control may explain persistent gambling behavior.
  • Financial incentives (winnings) amplify the willingness to pay for perceived control.
  • Psychological factors, not just odds, significantly influence gambling decisions.