The Frame of Mind Associated with a Gambler’s Habit of Lying

Lying is a behaviouristic pattern that has long been part of human nature. It may sound impertinent, but we have lied at least once in our lifetime. It can range from harmless white lies to pathological lying. The psychology of lying is pretty complex and experts are working hard to decode the complexities of the human mind associated with it.

It is sometimes observed that a particular section of the society associated with certain activities lie more than the others, one of them being the gamblers. Gambling, which is still perceived as a taboo throughout the world, compels people to lie more. This article digs deep into the gambler’s mind and uncovers the seeds of lying.

The Genesis of Lies in a Compulsive Gambler

Gambling in itself, like in a casino UK online is definitely a positive form of entertainment. However, it does have a high potential to downgrade into a compulsive disorder. Gamblers who resort to lying are mostly addicted to it. The act of lying can be interpreted by physical and psychological perspectives, that are explained as follows.

Brain Anatomy – a Puppet of Genes at Play

As we have already mentioned, the proficiency and intensity of lying varies largely from person to person. Neuroscientists have explained this on the basis of the physical composition of the human brain.

It has been decoded that the prefrontal cortex of the brain is the region that gets activated during the activity of lying. This region is responsible for executive control, moral cognition and the capacity to process spontaneous, deceitful behaviour.

The presence of electrical impulses in the amygdala is also observed when a person lies. The electrical stimuli are responsible for anxiety and an overall uneasiness in the person who is lying. With time, the intensity of the impulse decreases as the person gets used to lying more and more.

Genetics plays a huge role behind the anatomical diversity of the human brain and the way it influences actions and behaviours. A person may possess a higher propensity to get addicted to gambling while another person can turn out to be a better liar than the former. The association of brain physics and genetics with lying is relevant not only for the gamblers but for people from other sections of life as well.

The Psychology of Lying Associated with Compulsive Gambling

Gambling addiction is classified as an impulse-control disorder. Compulsive gambling pushes people to extremes, and lying is just a part of it. However, gamblers may engage in deceitful activities even before the addiction starts to kick in. A variety of psychological and behavioural aspects are responsible for a broken moral compass in gamblers:

1. 
   

   Denial – Very often, it is observed that the gamblers are ignorant of their addiction. They consider their habit of gambling to be under control, which is basically not the case. They end up lying unknowingly to their partners, friends and families.

   
   


2. 
   

   To protect their image – It is a well-known fact that gambling is like playing with fire and gamblers are at a risk of ruining their family and social life, suffering financial losses, cheating people and engaging in unlawful activities. When gamblers are aware of the mindset of their family members or peers against gambling, they resort to lying to keep their image clean.

   
   


3. 
   

   To boost their ego – Apart from the adrenaline rush, a strong materialistic desire is another reason why people engage in gambling. This desire hinders their ability to distinguish between right and wrong, as their morale is only boosted by bragging and showing off. Gamblers are always likely to lie about the losses they incur and exaggerate their winning margin, uplifting their ego in the process.

   
   

Financial and Legal Issues

The perilous nature of gambling lies in the fact that gamblers are likely to put more and more money at stake, getting financially ruined in the process. They lie to their partners, family members, friends and colleagues to borrow the bucks, as they try to compensate their losses by further gambling. It is also likely that they won’t return the borrowed amount at times.

Gambling makes people desperate, both for money and the euphoria associated with it. This desperation pushes people to take extreme steps. They may steal or rob people under the influence, or bet at an illegal casino lying at the risk of falling into legal troubles. A scenario like that leaves them with no options other than lying to find a way out of it.

Kick Your Addiction to Transform into a Responsible Citizen

An environment of ego-clashes, lies and deceitful activities largely prevails in the gambling scenario and the gamblers are influenced by their morally corrupt peers. They are always at a risk of spiraling down in society. Whether a compulsive gambler lies or not, it is our duty as a responsible member of the society to make that person aware of his potentially dangerous activities and help him find a way out of it.