Citation

Leonard CA, Williams RJ. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 2019; 51(1): 1-11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/cbs0000113

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Erroneous beliefs about gambling, known collectively as gambling fallacies, are known to be prevalent in the general population. However, relatively little is understood about the individual differences that lead to increased susceptibility to this collection of fallacious beliefs. It was hypothesized that factors responsible for gambling fallacies may be similar to factors that create susceptibility to other types of fallacious beliefs, such as belief in the paranormal. Using a sample of 266 Lethbridge community members and university students, the current study identified the individual differences associated with, and predictive of, endorsement of gambling fallacies. Comparisons were then made between these factors and the factors predicting belief in the paranormal. Consistent with our hypothesis, it was found that a very similar set of factors was predictive of belief in both gambling fallacies and paranormal phenomenon. More specifically, greater reliance on intuitive thought, a less rational cognitive style, and poorer probabilistic reasoning ability predicted both belief in the paranormal and endorsement of gambling fallacies. Directions for future research and interventions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords

False Beliefs; Gambling; Individual Differences; Intuition; Parapsychological Phenomena; Population; Prediction; Rationality; Risk Factors; Test Construction