YouTube Video
This video was published by Soft White Underbelly, a YouTube channel that profiles people from all walks of life. In this excerpt, they interview a self-confessed compulsive gambler.
“…it’s like the losses are probably up here, but when you offset them by the winds, I mean it’s like I don’t care. It’s like I want to feel the camaraderie of having people around me…it’s just like a high, just like you’re stepping out of reality for a little bit.”
Interview: Takeaways
Like all great interviewers, Soft White Underbelly allows Daniel to do most of the talking. It is a very candid interview, where Daniel discusses his family upbringing and how his gambling became an obsession. One of the main takeaways was how lonely Daniel was at one point of his life. The casino was one of the main tools that helped Daniel combat this feeling. He mentions the sense of camaraderie being at the table, surrounded by other players. While this may sound far-fetched at first, this sense of camaraderie felt very tangible to me. This is especially true in games where it’s the players vs. the house. Everyone would congratulate each other when we won and there were times, when other players gave me free chips to play with. In a sense, it was like being on a team. And for many, this was the escape they needed from their daily routine.
Research Findings
“Reactions to group success and failure as a function of identification level“
While Daniel’s interview rings true, it’s also important to examine his claims quantitatively. One article from the University of Tilburg examines similar group dynamics. The main finding was that “…there may be also be a personal issue at stake in the sense that group failure indicates personal failure for some people” (De and Van). This closely relates to one of my experiences at the casino. When I lost a hand and the person next to me won, they gifted me $20 in free chips. Like the authors mention, even though he had a personal success, the group success was not achieved unless I also “won.”
“The Effects of Goal Publicity and Self-Monitoring on Escalation of Goal Commitment”
Like the paper above, this study also examines undergraduate students. In particular it asks how they persist following a public failure vs. a private failure. A key finding presented was, “Across three experiments, the authors demonstrate that high self-monitors are more likely to persist following a public failure than a private failure” (Catherine). The casino is the ultimate public setting, as your bets are placed in front of everyone to see. Besides games like poker, there is no “hiding.” When you win, there is a sense of pride. And when you win again, you almost feel like you “know” how to beat the dealer. For many people, they lack this sense of winning in everyday life. Whether that be working a job where customers constantly complain to you, or having an overbearing boss, many are fed constant streams of negativity. Having other players look to you for advice, makes you feel important and is an ego boost. On the other spectrum, when you’re constantly losing at the casino, it can be even more demoralizing when combined with your daily struggles. You feel a sense to keep going and ultimately prove everyone wrong. This idea of public failure is heavily tied to gender norms and psychology. Findings from a recent psychological study suggest that “Men are especially vulnerable when they are suddenly confronted by proof that they are not as smart, powerful, or brave as they think they should be” (Psychology Today). Hence, public losing streaks are not only an attack on their bank account, but also on how they judge themselves.
Sources:
“Compulsive Gambler Interview – Daniel.” YouTube, uploaded by Soft White Underbelly, 16 June 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CdxhDW06I0
Cremer, De and Dijk van. “Reactions to group success and failure as a function of identification level.” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2002, https://pure.uvt.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/655263/Dave-Eric_JESP_.pdf. Accessed 5 November 2022.
“Embarrassment”, Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 2022, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/embarrassment
Failing at the Casino 