Attentional bias and addictive behaviour: automaticity in a gambling‐specific modified Stroop task

Abstract

Results support the previous finding that people with a problem behaviour or emotion take longer to colour-name words relating to the area of their concern. The current study extends previous work that has investigated the role of cognitive distortions and biases in the area of addictive behaviour. The current study confirms McCusker & Gettings's findings, but by avoiding the mental disorder conceptualization facilitates theoretical understanding of addictive behaviour. Implications for past models and theories of the Stroop as well as future research directions are discussed.