| Popis: |
In this research the effects of two cognitive distortions (the illusion of control and the gambler’s fallacy) and some induced emotions (anger, fear, sadness, joy) on problem and non-problem gamblers’ decision-making have been respectively investigated. Specifically, a study aimed to investigate the putative existence of the illusion of control in problem and non-problem gamblers will be presented. Such study examined whether previous outcomes associated with personal and random choices in a gambling task influenced the winning probability estimates (linked to personal or random choice of the next event to bet on), the selection of the choice-agent, and the bet amount. The second study focused on a study investigating the occurrence of the gambler’s fallacy (or the hot hand fallacy) and its relationship with probability estimates of the next outcome and the bet amount. Such study examined whether a series of identical outcomes induced one of the two fallacies and whether the induced fallacy was linked to an increase in probability estimates of the target event and in bet size. Finally, a study on the effect of positive and negative emotional states on decision-making was conducted. It examined whether the activation of incidental discrete positive/negative emotions was accompanied by a change of physiological parameters, whether the induced emotional states would affect the participants’ bet choice and whether such choices were influenced by the physiological arousal. The three studies also investigated whether such effects were present to a different extent in problem and non-problem gamblers. |
