Why We Gamble
Pathological risk-taking involves changes within the brain which affect either judgments of the results that a particular risk may accrue, or the perception of the risk level. An additional complication is that our brain mechanisms which encourage us to take risks make us feel good - or deliver a pleasurable "buzz" - when we take them and achieve successful outcomes. As with all motivated behaviors, this could lead to a form of addiction. This is what frequently lies at the root of extreme thrill-seeking and risk-taking behaviors.
Acquiring new knowledge is, in essence, also a type of risk-taking. Sure, one may sit and read a book or watch a television documentary and learn lots of new things without risking one's life. However, there are numerous examples in which the pursuit of knowledge has been achieved involving great personal risk. Ask any explorer. Gaining new knowledge demands that we risk delving into the unknown.
The "sensation-seeking" personality characteristic requires the constant pursuit of novel, intense & complex sensations and experiences and hence the readiness to take risks for the sake of such an experience. However, risk-taking is not the primary objective behind sensation-seeking behavior. In truth, it's the price one pays to engage in activities that satisfy that need for novelty, change and excitement.
Sensation-seekers actually do loads of things which aren't all that risky such as roller-coaster riding, partying, listening to loud music, watching extreme horror & sex films, and traveling to exotic places etc. Sensation-seeking may also involve extreme physical sports where the main motivation is the thrill and adventure-seeking.
Differences Between Male & Female Gamblers
It's often said that men and women gamble for different reasons. This can be illustrated by their different gambling habits. For example, men have a tendency to opt for fast action and competitive games that require some degree of strategic skill. Beating other players and being top dog in the hierarchy is highly important. Even in individual gambling games like slots, men are more preoccupied with their self-esteem and recognition achieved through winning, as opposed to the actual money being won. Women, on the other hand, tend to derive more satisfaction from the connection and intimacy shared with others. Also, unlike men, women are less likely to brag to their fellow gamblers about their winnings.
Love - The Greatest Risk of All
Looking for love is a great example of risk-taking. In fact, it's actually the highest risk social activity humans and other species participate in. The risk is clearly greatest for women who, if they're impregnated by a less than ideal male, are saddled with the consequences for a long time, while their male mate isn't. Females, hence, employ greater risk analysis when selecting prospective mates, taking into consideration far more traits when evaluating their partners, than do men.
Interestingly, women find risk-taking males more sexually attractive than risk-averse men. Thus it doesn't come as a surprise that men will frequently adopt "look at me" strategies to attract women when participating in dangerous activities. Mutual risk-taking like unprotected sex & extreme sports etc. are tremendous turn-ons for prospective couples as well. The mating game in fact helps promote risk-taking genes.
The current phenomenon of Internet dating provides another interesting view of risk-taking. We're all familiar with how well men and women can misrepresent themselves when communicating with each other indirectly. But we also know that there needs to be that element of physical chemistry which requires people to eventually meet up. The potential risks associated with meeting a prospective partner ‘offline' are naturally much greater than ‘online.'
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