Failure generates impulsivity only when outcomes cannot be controlled.

Verbruggen, Chambers, Lawrence, and McLaren (2017) recently challenged the view that individuals act with greater caution following the experience of a negative outcome by showing that a gambled loss resulted in faster reaction time (RT) on the next trial. Over three experiments, we replicate and establish the boundary conditions of this effect in the context of a simple game (rock, paper, scissors [RPS]). Choice responding against unexploitable opponents replicated the link between failure and faster responding.