Effects of Accuracy Feedback Versus Monetary Contingency on Arousal in High and Low Frequency Gamblers

This study examined the effects on arousal of feedback regarding prediction accuracy without monetary gain or loss versus accuracy feedback combined with monetary contingency involved in most gambling. Physiological and subjective arousal was assessed in frequent (n = 35; 16 females) and infrequent gamblers (n = 35; 16 females) during participation in a laboratory gambling game. Both samples consisted of undergraduate student volunteers. In one condition, subjects gambled money on their predictions about a sequence of events, hence receiving both feedback and monetary outcome. In the other condition, only feedback about accuracy was provided, with no money wagered. Arousal was greater for both groups during actual gambling than in the feedback only condition. Across both conditions, frequent gamblers exhibited greater arousal than did infrequent gamblers. There were, however, no significant Group X Condition interactions. These results suggest that actual monetary contingency rather than accuracy feedback alone is most motivating in gambling. Methodological limitations possibly related to the lack of Group X Condition interactions were discussed.