On Being Attracted to the Possibility of a Win: Reward Sensitivity (via Gambling Motives) Undermines Treatment Seeking Among Pathological Gamblers

Abstract

Unfortunately, only a small percent of pathological gamblers seek the professional help they need. In the current study, we test the idea that individual differences in reward sensitivity should predict whether a pathological gambler has sought treatment—the odds of treatment seeking should decrease as reward sensitivity increases. This hypothesis rests on the proposition that reward sensitive pathological gamblers should find treatment seeking aversive because doing so would remove a route to reward. We also tested those motivations to gamble that are positively reinforcing (social affliction and self-enhancement) as a possible mechanism by which reward sensitivity undermines treatment seeking—we did not anticipate negatively reinforcing motivations (e.g., coping) to be a mechanistic variable. Ninety-two pathological gamblers completed a large-scale survey that contained the variables of interest. As predicted, pathological gamblers were less likely to have sought treatment as reward sensitivity increased. Moreover, this relationship was mediated by social affiliation motivations to gamble, but not self-enhancement or coping motives. Reward sensitive gamblers did not wish to seek treatment to the extent that they were motivated to gamble for the social interactions it provides—seeking treatment would cut this avenue of affiliation with others. In light of these results, we suggest health care professionals take reward sensitivity into account when trying to promote treatment seeking, to say nothing of the social affiliation motives that underlie the reward sensitivity-treatment seeking link.

Reward and punishment sensitivity in women with gambling disorder or compulsive buying: Implications in treatment outcome

“…Being that a key component of our CBT intervention involves cutting ties with people and/or environments that could potentially cause a patient to relapse, patients who possess stronger social bonds to gambling might be more reluctant to stay in treatment when confronted. This rationale is consistent with other research that found that higher reward sensitivity levels undermined treatment seeking among pathological gamblers (Sztainert et al., 2014) and as such, patients with this trait could very well be less motivated to stay in treatment. Other studies propose that the GD in early stages could be categorized as an ego-syntonic disorder because the patient seeks immediate reward and does not experience associated distress (El-Guebaly, Mudry, Zohar, Tavares, & Potenza, 2012).…”

“…In addition, research has found that individuals with high reward sensitivity are motivated to engage in behaviors that provide both internal and external reinforcement in the form of enhancement/winning motives and social motives, respectively (Sztainert, Wohl, McManus, & Stead, 2014; Wardell et al., 2015). Similarly, greater CB tendencies have been positively associated with reward sensitivity, which has been reported to be a powerful predictor of CB severity (Lawrence, Ciorciari, & Kyrios, 2014).…”

Relations of Five-Factor Personality Domains to Gambling Motives in Emerging Adult Gamblers: A Longitudinal Study

“…A few studies have supported this contention. Sztainert, Wohl, McManus, and Stead (2014) found, in a sample of pathological gamblers, that reward sensitivity (i.e., a personality trait representing a tendency to seek out positive reinforcement) predicted both enhancement and social gambling motives, but did not predict coping motives. Using a 30-day experience sampling design, Goldstein, Stewart, Hoaken, and Flett (2014), in a sample of at-risk gamblers, determined that negative affectivity was positively correlated with coping motives, positive affectivity was positively related to enhancement motives, and impulsivity was positively related to both coping and enhancement motives.…”

“…This relationship might be clarified by examining more fine-grained facets of extraversion. For instance, MacLaren et al (2011a) ascertained that the positive emotions facet of extraversion is associated with fewer gambling problems, while Sztainert et al (2014) found that reward sensitivity was associated with heightened enhancement motives and gambling problems. Future research might explore these relationships longitudinally to isolate the components of extraverted personality associated with specific patterns of gambling motives.…”

Cognitive Function and Beliefs in Luck in the Consumer Context

“…Persistence in the face of loss and continued engagement in chance-based tasks despite adverse consequences is the defining behaviour exhibited by problem gamblers. In terms of clinical applications, the current research suggests that beliefs in luck is a factor endorsed by many, not just those with disordered gambling (Wohl, Young, & Hart, 2007), and therefore, might be an area of focus for prevention initiatives aimed to promote responsible play (Wohl et al, in press) and treatment seeking (Sztainert, Wohl, McManus, & Stead, 2013).…”