Study: Gamblers have higher hopes (Australia)

“PROBLEM gamblers have a higher and more enduring hope of winning than other people, a new study shows.

The research, by the University of Western Sydney, reveals persistent high hope clouds the judgment of problem gamblers and leads to the impairment of self-control.

School of Psychology PhD graduate Dr Morten Boyer said an inherent characteristic of gambling was that despite the vary small chance of winning, there was always a chance.

“For problem gamblers, the perpetual, albeit small chance of winning translates into a high level of hope which makes it seem irrational to stop feeding money into the machine,” Dr Boyer said.”

NEWS.com.au (08/15/07)