Gambling

From a psychological perspective, online gambling, including day trading, is qualitatively different from the more conventional forms of gambling, such as horse racing, casino gambling, and lottery tickets.

Each individual has a unique story, and each has developed a particular relationship with the source of stimulation. For example, consider Brian who throws away more money than he can afford on lottery tickets. After debating with himself for many months and several failed attempts to control this behavior, Brian decides to change his ways and commits to abstinence. It is now a little after midnight three weeks later, and he has just pulled into a convenience store for gas. The clerks remarks, "This must be your lucky day, I was going to close up 5 minutes ago." Brian thinks, "Perhaps this is an omen of good fortune, I'd be foolish not to buy a ticket." What will determine his behavior at this critical moment, the commitment he made he made three weeks ago or the impulse evoked by the immediate situation? If he lapses, that means that his behavior was dependent upon external factors rather than upon his decision, and so he has crossed the line to loss of control.

A wide range of information and tools are available free of charge by following the links in the right column.

• Tina's musings provides a female psychologist's perspective on women's issues and relationships. Bill's PIG Review provides summaries of the professional literature on topics pertaining to the Problem of Immediate Gratification.
• The "Listen Now" section contains two free hypnotic inductions that you may download for use on an MP3 player to evoke states of focused attention and relaxation respectively.
• Other invitations to experience phenomena directly (rather than conceptualizing them abstractly) are presented throughout this web site. They are designed to help you develop your capability to exercise will. The procedural skills you will develop by accepting these invitations will enable you to make the irreversible changes required to achieve good long-term outcome.

 

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"Life is perpetual instruction in cause and effect."