Abstract
The current study examined the differences in arousal (physiologically and subjectively) between gamblers and non-gamblers.
Thirty students from a mid-sized university took part in the study for a chance to win money in a gambling task. Nearly half
of the participants identified themselves as non-gamblers and slightly more than half of the participants considered themselves
gamblers. Findings indicated that gamblers experienced a significantly higher increase in physiological arousal (heart rate)
compared to non-gamblers during the gambling experience. The results suggests the possibility that physiological arousal may
play a role in the appeal of gambling to certain types of people. Furthermore, when gamblers suffered a loss at the end of
the game, they reported feeling worse as compared to the non-gamblers and relative to their state before playing. Moreover,
this affective change explained 28.6% of the variance in gambling behavior according to self-reports. Findings suggest that
gamblers in our study may have been more personally invested in the gambling tasks, such that losing was more disappointing
to the habitual gamblers than the non-gamblers.
Thirty students from a mid-sized university took part in the study for a chance to win money in a gambling task. Nearly half
of the participants identified themselves as non-gamblers and slightly more than half of the participants considered themselves
gamblers. Findings indicated that gamblers experienced a significantly higher increase in physiological arousal (heart rate)
compared to non-gamblers during the gambling experience. The results suggests the possibility that physiological arousal may
play a role in the appeal of gambling to certain types of people. Furthermore, when gamblers suffered a loss at the end of
the game, they reported feeling worse as compared to the non-gamblers and relative to their state before playing. Moreover,
this affective change explained 28.6% of the variance in gambling behavior according to self-reports. Findings suggest that
gamblers in our study may have been more personally invested in the gambling tasks, such that losing was more disappointing
to the habitual gamblers than the non-gamblers.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10899-011-9279-4
- Authors
- Antonio Pascual-Leone, Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
- Jennifer L. Campeau, Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
- Shawn J. Harrington, Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
- Journal Journal of Gambling Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-3602
- Print ISSN 1050-5350