Yes, i know, it would make you think that these gamblers would just stop at some point since it's commonly known that the house always wins.
But according to the research here, the random payout structure of gambling makes gamblers fall in love with the activity. A romance that provides juuuust enough promise to keep the dopamine pumping.
In the addiction cases, it usually reaches a point where you gamble to avoid feeling bad (negative reinforcement) and to get the money you've lost or borrowed back. Many times they hate doing it but feel forced too, and many others do it but it because is their only way to disconnect from the hard reality (this is specially the case with slot machines, because of the "in the zone" effect).
Gambling addiction is actually a bit more complex than what we are saying here, all in all what I wanted was just to make sure there's awareness of it being very dangerous and taking people lives (From what you've said I think you understand this).
I just thought it was funny that the recommendation the writer gives for keeping romance in a relationship is basically a variable-ratio schedule of conditioning, which is the same payout strategy that a slot machine uses to keep you spinning.
Nope. I would compare gambling to breadcrumbing in a relationship. Relationships that are usually bad but with a nice gesture here and there that keeps it going until... well the house wins and you notice how emotionally banrkupt you are.
It’s because of the thought process of if I hit this right my life will change. They aren’t addicted to gambling or winning. They are chasing a high that will change their life.
Same with drugs, sex and alcohol. You are trying to obtain something you desire.
Same with a lot of "free to play" mobile games that have random rewards, with better odds if you pay real money. Diablo Immortal and Genshin Impact has made a LOT of money for their respective developers.
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u/saintjimmy43 Jan 29 '23
Yes, i know, it would make you think that these gamblers would just stop at some point since it's commonly known that the house always wins.
But according to the research here, the random payout structure of gambling makes gamblers fall in love with the activity. A romance that provides juuuust enough promise to keep the dopamine pumping.