The research was done by a Dr. Griffiths in England. He compared the behavior of 15 regular gamblers (赌徒) with those of 15 non-regular gamblers before and after they gambled. Both groups had increased heart rates during gambling because it was exciting. But the regular gamblers’ heart rates went down almost straight after the , while the non-regulars remained excited and had in- creased heart rates for longer.
When the heart beat increases, the body produces one chemical called endorphins which make you feel good. Dr. Griffiths thinks that regular gamblers lose this good feeling soon after a and need to play again quickly to regain the pleasure.
He has also discovered that regular gamblers have different psychological reactions (心理反应) from non-regular gamblers. In an experiment where regular and non-regular gamblers spoke their thoughts aloud while playing, regular gamblers had far more unreasonable thoughts. In their minds they turned losses into near wins. Dr. Griffiths thinks that nearly winning gives the gambler a high in the same way that a win would do.
Based on Dr. Griffiths’ s research, doctors suggest that one way to help regular gamblers to give up gambling is to give them β-blockers-drugs (β受体阻滞药) that stop them getting a high in the first place.
How did Dr. Griffiths discover the gamblers’ feelings when winning and losing