The Psychology of Risk-Taking: Why Humans Love Competition

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The human mind is an extremely complex organ. All the nervous tissue that forms the brain is responsible for every human action, understanding, feeling and thought that gets us through the day. The emotional aspect is what makes humans unique (just watch I, Robot starring Will Smith), especially with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence in recent years.

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Emotion is also what brings excitement into our lives and for those of us that seek the occasional thrill, the human psyche is brought into a greater level of complexity, and one that is often difficult to control. There are many things that bring us joy. It could be the endorphins produced by playing sport, it could be coming close to winning a game of chess, closing out a hand on the poker table or successfully winning an online sports bet.

One thing common to all these aspects is that humans enjoy the feeling of excitement and via different means, seek it out. For some, the element of risk is what brings excitement and one example of a modern-day entertainment avenue that provides all the levels of emotion, excitement, and risk that humans crave is online sports betting.

There is a reason why this market is worth nearly USD $71 billion globally. Humans simply love the thrill of the chase and the rollercoaster ride that comes with placing a bet. It is the uncertainty that produces suspense and gets neurons firing around the body, elevating levels of various chemicals to produce unrivalled emotions.

On trusted betting websites like 1Bet, online bettors are in their element, provided they deposit, spend and bet within reason and within their means. Nowadays, the element of risk-taking has greater security blankets placed around it, especially on online sportsbooks, such as self-exclusion tools, limits placed on deposits and wagering, as well as reminders for when the level of risk-taking gets too extreme. “Responsible risk-taking” is the name of the game in present day society and keeps the competition and game play healthy.

The Power of Dopamine

One of the main contributors to the feeling of excitement is a neurotransmitter called dopamine. The chemical produces reward-seeking behavior and works in tandem with endorphins to create a sense of reward after an activity. A prime example of dopamine production is seen when exercising. The endorphins first kick in to reduce stress and pain and enhance the overall mood, before then signaling the release of dopamine to create the “feel good” reward feeing.

While endorphins are predominantly positive, dopamine can be harder to control and can also lead to issues such as addiction. However, with good stress management, regular exercise and a healthy diet, dopamine levels can be kept in check, an essential aspect for those that enjoy chasing thrills. There is often a delicate balancing act required in risk taking between a healthy level of emotion and ultimately, too much risk.

Whether it is on the sports field against opposition or against yourself in the online sports betting arena, a level of excitement and emotion is guaranteed to be produced depending on the level of risk involved. Humans will continue to love and seek competition but in modern-day society, the key is assessing that risk to determine a healthy level of competition for yourself.

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