Positive Thinking Among Slot Machine Gamblers: A Case of Maladaptive Coping?

• DOI: 10.1007/s11469-006-9049-1
• Publication Date: 2007-01-08T18:21:49Z
• Authors: Jonathan Parke; Mark D. Griffiths; Adrian Parke
• Keywords: Health psychology

Background Research has demonstrated that optimism and “positive illusions” can be used a coping mechanism among those facing adversity. Gamblers are a little studied group who also experience adversity and uncertainty. They often feel considerable levels of frustration, guilt, anger and a sense of feeling cheated after making significant losses. In order to deal with such feelings it is hypothesized that these individuals will search for positive consequences from their behaviour in order to offset this negative affect.