Validation d’une échelle d’évaluation multi-dimensionnelle de l’illusion de contrôle dans les jeux de hasard et d’argent (EEMDIC)

Abstract

IntroductionThe illusion of control is widely accepted as a key factor in the gambling behaviors. A polysemic concept, its theoretical definition remains debatable, however, and the multitude of measures used to account for it makes it difficult to compare the results of research on it. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to clarify what the illusion of control is and to provide a measure that captures what it is. MethodBy considering the two valences, positive (focusing on gains) and negative (focusing on losses), relating to gambling cognitions, two subscales were thus subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on the data collected from 482 participants (82.78% of women, Mage=36.5, SDage=12.31). ResultsThe results reveal that a 4-factor solution (absolute luck/series law; skills, knowledge and strategies; superstitious rituals and behaviours; personal luck/misfortune) allows us to describe the sample data for each of the two subscales. Polynomial regressions with response surface analyses make the case for presenting the two subscales simultaneously (matrix format). These analyses also show that the illusion of control is linked to gambling habits through the interaction of positive and negative valences. In particular, individuals gamble more frequently when they simultaneously attribute more their winnings and less their losses to luck. ConclusionsThe usefulness of this new tool, which addresses the illusion of control by a direct measurement of its dimensions and an indirect measurement of its affective structure, is discussed both in terms of research and practice, since it would make it possible to orient care.