Financially focused people who gamble selectively attend to descriptors of financial hardship: Findings from an emotional Stroop task study

Session Title

Gambling Behavior: Language, Finance & Digital

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Start Date

28-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

Gamblers who define their self-worth through financial success—they have a financially focused self-concept—are at risk for developing gambling problems. Yet little is known about the cognitive processes that explain why financially focused self-concept contributes to problem gambling. Based on cognitive theory, financially focused gamblers may develop gambling problems because they have an attentional bias for financial information. Financial hardship cues may draw attention because they threaten self-worth, whereas financial success cues may attract attention because they align with valued goals. We tested this idea in a U.S. community sample of adults who spent at least $100 on gambling in the past year (N = 1,425). They completed measures of financial focus, relative deprivation, gambling problems, and demographics followed by a modified emotional Stroop task. Participants higher (vs. lower) in financial focus took longer to identify the color of financial hardship words (e.g., poor) relative to lexically matched neutral financial (e.g., coin), negative emotion (e.g., fear), and inanimate object (e.g., hoop) words. These findings held regardless of participants’ age, personal income, relative deprivation, and gambling problems. There was no comparable effect for financial success words (e.g., rich). These findings indicate that a higher financial focus was associated with an attentional bias for financial hardship words—but not for financial success words .

Author Bios

Dr. Nassim Tabri is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Carleton University whose research examines the antecedents and consequences of health-compromising behaviors, including disordered gambling. He has published widely, received national and international awards, and secured major research funding. His work informs evidence-based responsible gambling practices and harm-reduction strategies.

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May 28th, 12:00 AM

Financially focused people who gamble selectively attend to descriptors of financial hardship: Findings from an emotional Stroop task study

Gamblers who define their self-worth through financial success—they have a financially focused self-concept—are at risk for developing gambling problems. Yet little is known about the cognitive processes that explain why financially focused self-concept contributes to problem gambling. Based on cognitive theory, financially focused gamblers may develop gambling problems because they have an attentional bias for financial information. Financial hardship cues may draw attention because they threaten self-worth, whereas financial success cues may attract attention because they align with valued goals. We tested this idea in a U.S. community sample of adults who spent at least $100 on gambling in the past year (N = 1,425). They completed measures of financial focus, relative deprivation, gambling problems, and demographics followed by a modified emotional Stroop task. Participants higher (vs. lower) in financial focus took longer to identify the color of financial hardship words (e.g., poor) relative to lexically matched neutral financial (e.g., coin), negative emotion (e.g., fear), and inanimate object (e.g., hoop) words. These findings held regardless of participants’ age, personal income, relative deprivation, and gambling problems. There was no comparable effect for financial success words (e.g., rich). These findings indicate that a higher financial focus was associated with an attentional bias for financial hardship words—but not for financial success words .