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Examining the Roles of Rule Following, Reinforcement, and Preexperimental Histories on Risk-Taking Behavior

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the participation of a variety of variables in gambling behavior. Forty-five subjects were exposed to an experimental roulette game played for course extra-credit points. In Phase 1, subjects played a fair game (i.e., completely random outcomes) without any instructions regarding the programmed contingencies for 75 trials. During Phase 2, subjects were exposed to an adjusted game with payback percentages of either p =.2, p =.8, or continued at p = fair and instructions related to play. Lastly, during Phase 3 all subjects were exposed to an adjusted game with a payback percentage of.2 and an option for escape. Results show that subjects exposed to inaccurate rules regarding play took higher levels of risk, made larger bets, and chose the escape option later than subjects exposed to accurate or no rules related to play. Although reinforcement density varied across subjects exposed to the same rule condition, there was no significant effect of that manipulation on subsequent gambles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavior Analysis and Therapy Program, Rehabilitation Institute, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Mark R. Dixon

  2. University of Nevada, USA

    Linda J. Hayes & Immaculada B. Aban

Authors
  1. Mark R. Dixon
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  2. Linda J. Hayes
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  3. Immaculada B. Aban
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark R. Dixon.

Additional information

The present study was completed by Mark Dixon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctoral Degree in Psychology at the University of Nevada. We thank the additional members of that dissertation committee, Drs. Patrick M. Ghezzi, Steven C. Hayes, and Catherine Fowler. Additional thanks are given to Melissa Hernandez and Ralph E. Ebbs for assistance in the data collection.

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Dixon, M.R., Hayes, L.J. & Aban, I.B. Examining the Roles of Rule Following, Reinforcement, and Preexperimental Histories on Risk-Taking Behavior. Psychol Rec 50, 687–704 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395378

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