Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

Ellen, I wonder how this current research ties in to the current gambling casinos, where a few people are overly willing to take big risks. Some seem much more prone to do this.

I can remember back in my teens, getting caught up on a horse racing game in our local fair. It was mechanically set up and for awhile I was winning so I was willing to take greater risks. Then I began to lose and I lost a little money. I quit then and when I moved out of the environment with all the lights and exciting sound effects, I had no appetite for more. I turned my back on it and have never since been tempted the rest of my life.

I have taken note, knowing what I do about the brain, that these gambling casinos, attract through several senses, plus they are darkened to heighten the effects of the lights. That heightens the experience.

I'm sure that this is much of the attraction in addition to winning money.

What can you tell me about people prone to this kind of gambling? What is there about their brains that might be different?

Thanks for the insights, Robyn, you are really getting into the brain's placticity here. Rewire for risks again and again ... and you increase the brain's placticity for risk-taking. Sadly - you do not necessarily increase the brain's expertise in the area of the risk.

So if gambling is set against your win - in the end -- and your brain craves more and more attempts (risks) to try and win -- your brain will sabotage you.

Instead - if you take the cautions mentioned here -- and look at your chances - through research -- your brain can rewire to take better risks than gambling ... for making money.

Gamblers go with their craving for money ... often wiring for more adventure in that area of the crave ... and less wiring in the areas of facts about how gambling works against their win in the long run. If they continue to run - with half the picture - their brain begins to lie to them - that eventually they can get that big win. Most don't win -- but that is the recipe for continued addiction (as far as the brain works). Does that make sense?

Ellen, this really makes a lot of sense. And I can see more of the depth.

In a way this kind of craving's similar to people who go on high flying carnival rides. Seems like the roller coasters are getting higher with the dips more scary than ever. Someone who conquers one seems to crave even more thrills and would search for even better and different roller coasters to try.

Now that facinates me, Robyn! I am not sure if there is a correlation between a high rider at a fair and the kind of financial risks some people gravitate to at work. There is research that would be wild! I will check it out:-) How interesting - if there is a correlation! Do you think it exists in people you know?

I'll look forward to what you discover!

I think there's a significant place where the research doesn't apply. Many people get in trouble with financial risk because they don't perceive any risk. The designers of the "sophisticated" process of securitizing mortgage loans were sure they had created a risk-free vehicle, one that used home mortgages (historically a very safe investment) to create a new, safe investment option. Many people who bought those securities believed the hype. They saw no risk.

That is so true, Wally. Therein lies the extra caution to look again - and whenever it comes to finances - check every angle for just this problem, Wally. You are so right - and thanks for weighing in. Ellen