MONETARY INCENTIVE AND ERRONEOUS PERCEPTIONS IN AMERICAN ROULETTE

Gambling behavior is a complex phenomenon and represents an enigma for most researchers and theoreticians. A sociocognitive theory of gambli ng was recently formulated by Walker (1992) on the presence of erroneo us perceptions held by the individuals while they gamble. Many studies have confirmed that erroneous perceptions are dominant ill all indivi duals involved in gambling activities and that the possibility of winn ing money is the player's most important external motivation to play. This study evaluated the effects of monetary incentive on the cognitiv e activity of individuals and on the betting strategies used while pla ying American roulette. It was hypothesized that the gr-enter the pote ntial monetary gains, the greater the percentage of erroneous verbaliz ations accompanied by increased monetary risk taking behavior. Results indicate that the percentage of erroneous perceptions clearly outnumb ered accurate perceptions, but that this percentage and risk taking be havior were not influenced by monetary incentives. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed in relation to the psychology of gambling.