Using temporal consistency of gambling expectancies to predict consistency of gambling behavior

Research on Metatraits and the Cognitive-Affective Processing System Model suggests that specific behaviors are best predicted when considering one's associated cognitions regarding the specific situation. As such, the current study investigated the relationship between gambling cognitions and behaviors. It was hypothesized that: (1) consistency in gambling expectancies can predict consistency in gambling behavior; (2) consistency in global gambling expectancies is a better predictor of consistency in gambling behavior for less experienced gamblers than frequent and non-gamblers; and (3) when comparing consistency of gambling expectations and general aspects of personality, expectancies will demonstrate better discriminant validity for predictions of consistency in behavior. The findings suggest that: consistency in negative expectancies predicted a significant amount of variance in consistency of gambling behavior; less frequent gamblers, drinkers and smokers hold similar types of expectancies; and consistency of gambling expectations provided better predictions of consistency in gambling behavior than did consistency of affectivity or conscientiousness.