It evokes fun, random luck and a feeling of collective commitment to call gambling a "game of opportunity." These playful connotations may be part of why at some stage in their lifetime nearly 80 percent of American adolescents are playing. When I ask my learners in psychology why they believe individuals are playing, the most common suggestions are for enjoyment, money, or excitement.
While these may be reasons why people initially play, psychologists definitely don't understand why gambling stops being an pleasant distraction for some and becoming compulsive. Even when it stops being enjoyable, what keeps individuals playing? Why do individuals understand they are intended to lose with matches? Are some individuals just more unfortunate than the remainder of us, or just worse when calculating the odds?
infographic by: bojoko.com
