Negative mood effects on decision making among potential pathological gamblers and healthy individuals

Abstract

In this study we investigated the effects of negative mood on decision making among potential pathological gamblers and healthy individuals. More specifically, we examined whether the two groups exhibited the same or different pattern of choice when being in a negative emotional state. To that end, participants were induced with negative mood through the emotional event recall technique and subsequently presented with four scenarios about monetary decision making. For each scenario they were asked to choose an option among four possibilities: two options were cautious and two risky. Results showed that negative mood affected healthy individuals and potential pathological gamblers in the opposite way: the former made more cautious choices, while the latter made more risky choices.