Humans have wagered on the outcomes of chance events since prehistoric times. Ruth Roosevelt, director of the Wall Street Hypnosis Center, explains how trading and gambling have certain characteristics in common and how not to let them become examples of problem behavior. Gambling is an old and universal behavior, and with it comes problem gambling.
History abounds with examples of problem gambling.
The inability to control the impulse to gamble and to continue to do so despite the amount of money won or lost has existed for a very long time. We've all known traders who at one time or another experience a trading loss and try frantically to recoup that loss by increasing the size and frequency of their trading. And we've known traders who after a large win will trade carelessly or excessively until they lose their winnings. This behavior is classic with problem gamblers. Pathological gamblers, however, often scramble to get additional funds to keep gambling.