Jogo problemático e o papel do pensamento contrafactual

Abstract

Introduction: Research on counterfactual thinking shows that people are often affected by what could have happened or almost happened. The aim of this narrative review was to compile the most current information available on problematic gambling in its various aspects, focusing on the understanding of the influence of counterfactual thinking on this behavior, including the influence of the "near-miss" effect and of the players' beliefs, on problematic gambling. Material and Methods: This narrative review consisted of a bibliographic research of the terms: (gambling behavior OR pathological gambling) AND counterfactual thinking AND "near-miss" effect AND belief in good luck in the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo and Clinical Key in the period between 2014 and 2021. Results: A total of 38 articles were included, of the 75 searched. Most studies focused on cognitive errors as one of the major factors in the perpetuation of abusive gambling. Other aspects influencing gambling behaviors were genetic factors, unemployment and lower socio-economic status, social problems, excessive drug use, personality disorder and devices with easy Internet access. When a negative event occurs, the individual theorizes about how he or she could have avoided it, thus defining himself or herself as the cause of the outcome. In such counterfactual thinking, greater emphasis is placed on an alternative reality than on what actually happened, which encourages gambling even after successive losses. Individuals who are more susceptible to counterfactual comparisons are also more sensitive to "near miss" effects, where an action that produces a negative outcome, but very close to being successful, introduces an illusion of good luck. Conclusion: The results show that there is still a vast field to be researched for a more complete understanding of the learning processes involved in gambling. Players' awareness of the influence of the phenomenon of "near-miss" on human behavior can also play an important role in the understanding and treatment of game disorders, which could be the focus of future research.