An experimental study of the effect of prior alcohol consumption on a simulated gambling activity

Abstract

The consumption of alcohol appeared to eliminate the strong associations found in placebo group between individual difference measures and persistence. The analogue game was accepted by participants as a valid form of gambling. The result showed that relatively small quantities of alcohol have a significant effect on the psychological processes that underpin self-control over gambling. This finding challenges the conceptual research paradigm of studying co-morbidity or dual-addicted clinical populations as the most appropriate method of understanding how two addictive behaviours interact.

Indicated Prevention of Problem Gambling Among College Students

“…Nonetheless, pilot data suggest the intervention may reduce both gambling and gambling while drinking. Given that combining drinking and gambling at the same time is associated with increased persistence when losing and wagering a larger percentage of available credit per bet (Kyngdon & Dickerson, 1999), this finding is encouraging and consistent with the intervention goals and hypotheses. Based on these findings, as well as other ongoing research in our lab, the intervention has been slightly modified to increase attention to normative perceptions of gambling, perceived risks and benefits of gambling, and cognitive correction, and a manual has been developed.…”

The separate effects of self-estimated and actual alcohol intoxication on risk taking: A field experiment.

“…While most studies agree that alcohol consumption is associated with risky behavioral patterns like dangerous driving (Burian et al 2003;Russ et al 1988;Beirness1987),riskysexualbehavior(Halpern-Felsheretal.1996Cooper2002)and violence(EnsorandGodfrey1993;Lauetal.1995;RichardsonandBudd2003),there isnoconsensusonexactlyhowalcoholinfluencesanindividual'swillingnesstotake risks.Ontheonehand,itisstillunclearwhethertheresultingriskybehaviorsafter alcoholic exposure are due to an enhanced preference for riskier choices in concomitance with the impaired ability to perceive risks and/or to evaluate the possible negative consequences associated with those behaviors (Lane et al 2004;Kyngdon and Dickerson 1999;Euser et al 2011;Fromme et al 1997;George et al 2005). On the other hand, we still do not know whether it is only the pharmacological effect of alcohol intake or also a psychological component which influencesalcohol-relatedriskybehaviors.Sofartheroleofimportantpsychological factors around the alcohol-risk relationship remains surprisingly unexplored.…”

Drinkers and bettors: Investigating the complementarity of alcohol consumption and problem gambling

“…Much of the published research has relied upon experimental or convenience samples (Baron and Dickerson, 1999;Breslin et al, 1999;Kyngdon and Dickerson, 1999). Evidence from general population surveys suggests an association between alcohol use and problematic gambling behaviors (Abbott and Volberg, 1992;Becona, 1992;Dickerson et al, 1994;National Opinion Research Center, 1999), but not without exception (Welte et al, 2004a).…”