alt Hacker NewsI don't understand what makes gambling addictive, but I do remember studies done on cats that we read about in psych 101. Cats had implants surgically implanted to their pleasure centers of the brain. A lever would trigger the implant to give them pleasure. If the lever gives pleasure everytime it's pressed, the cat would get bored of it. If the reward was random, the cat would sit there and press it all day. I think of slot machines in a similar way. I spent some time near Casino's. I heard about old people going there and wearing diapers because their greatest fear was getting up from the slot machine, and someone else sitting down at it and winning "their" prize. They thought that since it hasn't paid out for a while, it's due to pay out soon. They would play two machines side by side. Some people would have two jobs, one to pay for gambling, the other for living. It can be an addiction and can ruin lives.
Interesting. I am going to try and find that study when I get off work. Based on your summary, it kind of reminds me of the "Rat Park^1" study a bit.
I can and cannot believe people could be so addicted to gambling that they voluntarily wallow in their excrement. I used to have a family friend that worked a company that owned and operated many of those gambling machines. He said that they are basically all rigged (go figure). You know, kind of like claw machines -- it doesn't matter how well you aim. The claw's grip strength is algorithmically controlled. Thus, the claw give the illusion that one was actually close to snagging the prize.
You are correct that gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives. Well, I guess all addictions can or else such issues wouldn't be classified as addictions. However, in the gambling addiction thread on here a few days ago. Someone cited some stat that stated that gambling addiction is the addiction with the highest rate of suicide. I did not verify that information, so take that for what it is worth, but I can believe it.
[1] https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/what-does-rat-park-tea...