Gambling disorder
An occasional indulgence to an addiction?
Humans, as always, are dopamine seeking-mixture of organic molecules that can’t resist a thrill. Every day, our cognitive faculties are bombarded by stimuli on social media. Since we are biologically wired to seek novel experiences, our choices may diverge-sometimes-at the cost of our welfare.
Gambling is a morally ambiguous activity. Surveys show that people have differing opinions about its social acceptability. Although, the prevalent notion of gambling is, of course, a negative one. We often include gambling on the list of ‘Don’ts’ while educating children. But then why do grown-ups make a decision that often leads to malign consequences?
Stories about how someone became a gambling addict are not hard to find. Just like any addiction, the first step is curiosity. We believe we are more psychologically resilient hence getting addicted would not be a question. After a while, this “curiosity” can transform into “dependency”.
Brain Stuff
In the centre of our brain, is the reward pathway which includes the ventral tegmental area(VTA) and nucleus accumbens. This area gets activated when we are doing something pleasurable. It releases dopamine and makes us feel joyous. Neuroimaging studies show that this area is highly active in people addicted to drugs leading to the theory that gambling addiction could be in the same category as other harmful addictions. Therefore, the American Psychiatric Association classified pathological gambling as an impulse-control disorder under the Addictions category [DSM-V].
Signs of Gambling addiction:
> Using more and more money each time to feel excited enough.
> Experiencing withdrawal symptoms(restlessness, uneasiness) after reducing or quitting.
> Ruminating thoughts about gambling all the time.
> Deceiving others by lying and stealing money to gamble.
> Chasing one’s losses(attempting to regain yesterday’s debt).
Note: Gambling addiction as a diagnosis is only when the person is not experiencing manic episodes.
Is it just our neurotransmitters?
We can be quite silly while thinking about how special or lucky we are. Reading a horoscope can make us feel more confident about how our day will turn out(even if it’s a sucky day). When we buy a lottery ticket, we believe in that small chance that we, out of all the people, could be the lucky ones.
It is observed that people who are in a good mood tend to make riskier decisions. Feeling lucky and being lucky are two different things. Additionally, our expectations are conducive to our beliefs. For example, if we bet on a particular horse in a horseracing competition(obviously), our trust increases that the odds will be in our favour.
There is also the famous Gambler’s fallacy which you can avoid if you understand how probability works. In simple terms, if a coin shows heads when flipped six times in a row, the person would bet on the next flip resulting in tails. Why? After an event happens repeatedly(coin showing heads), we mistakenly believe a change will be imminent. Yet, the odds could still be it turning out heads.
A significant factor in all fallacies and cognitions is the variable of uncertainty. The element of surprise catches a lot of attention.
To win or not to win?
Owning a casino house can be a lucrative venture. After all, you are capitalizing on one of the strongest human vices: Greed. But why does a business model which risks losing money keep getting richer? Well, because they are designed to win in the long run.
Utilizing the principle of uncertainty, gambling houses give mini-jackpots to their players, keeping them tempted. On the other hand, the players try to crack the “pattern”-which does not exist-to gain the upper edge and defeat the system. A futile action.
Encouraging the players by giving them small bouts of success, the house binds them in a loop and attains more profit as the player falls for the illusion of winning.
Superstitions, social media, income levels, and susceptibility are various factors that play a role in the manifestation of a gambling disorder. It is extremely important to know that gambling addiction can also lead to anxiety and mood disorders. It is always wise to be mindful.
Take care. ^^