The comparison of gaming and gambling in relation to decision-making behavior and implicit associations

Background:

Results from recent studies suggest that altered implicit and explicit cognitions in individuals with substance dependencies are involved in the development of the respective disorders. Based on the I-PACE (Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution) model (Brand et al., 2019), research project RP7 of FOR2974 investigates whether implicit cognitions and stimulus-specific reduction of executive control also influence the development and maintenance of gambling disorder.

Method:

Implicit addiction-related cognitions (modified Implicit Association Test, IAT) and decision-making processes when confronted with addiction-specific visual stimuli (modified Iowa Gambling Task, IGT) were examined in 37 individuals with gaming disorder, 25 individuals with gambling disorder, and 37 healthy control subjects.

Results:

Initial results show that both individuals with gaming disorder and individuals with gambling disorder exhibit positive implicit cognitions towards gaming-related visual stimuli. This is not observed in the control group. Specific addiction-related approach tendencies are evident in gaming and gambling disorders and are related to the severity of symptoms. Compared to the control group, individuals with gaming disorder and gambling disorder demonstrate disadvantageous decision-making when confronted with task-irrelevant addiction-associated stimuli.

Conclusion:

Initial results indicate that implicit cognitions as well as deficits in decision-making play a crucial role in the etiology of disorders in individuals with gaming and gambling disorder.

Co-Authors: Manfred E. Beutel, Sabine Steins-Löber & Klaus Wölfling

Session Title: Internet-related Disorders