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Abstract
The present study seeks to extend previous behavior analytic gambling research on contextual control and rule governed behavior in gambling contexts. Six recreational gamblers were asked to play on two different slot machines (Z1 and Z2), each identified by a contextual cue (A1 or A2), before (baseline) and after relational training. During the baseline, response allocation of bets on each of the slot machines was measured. Next, gamblers completed relational training wherein the contextual cues for more/less than was trained and the transfer of function was assessed using situational vignettes in the form of assessment questionnaire. Following training, gamblers were randomly selected to either play on a slot machine with (Group I, n=3) or without (Group II, n=3) the contextual cues on the slot machines. It was noted that four out six participants allocated the majority of their responses to the slot machine paired with the contextual cue of “more than”, following relational training. Two out of three participants from Group I allocated most of their responses to slot machine paired with “more than”. One out of three Group II participant allocated her responses variably when the contextual cues were absent from the slot machine and allocated all her bets to slot machine paired with the “more than” contextual cue, during the contextual cue present phase.