Decreasing influence of arbitrarily applicable verbal relations of recreational gamblers: A randomized controlled trial. Issue 1 (5th October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Belisle, Jordan; Paliliunas, Dana; Dixon, Mark R.; Speelman, Ryan C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied behavior analysis. Volume 52:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2018-10-05
• Subjects: contextual control -- choice -- defusion -- gambling; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; Social Behavior -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1002/jaba.511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8855

Abstract

Abstract : Twenty‐one recreational gamblers were randomly assigned to two groups; one group was exposed to a conditional discrimination relational training task to bias choice allocation to a black machine presented concurrently with a red machine, and the other group underwent the same relational training task immediately followed by a defusion procedure, designed to expand upon the relations developed in the initial relational task. Both groups completed a simulated slot‐machine task before and after the relational training task, with or without the defusion procedure. Results showed that 9 of 11 participants in the relational training only group showed an increased bias toward the black machine, compared to only 4 of 10 in the relational training plus defusion group; this latter group also showed greater matched responding. Results suggest that expanding verbal–relational networks may reduce the influence of any single verbal relation on gambling choice behavior.