The Psychology of Blackjack
There are several interesting blogs about the psychology of gambling. At least one professor of psychology has theorized that there is a stronger human motive toward “play” than there is toward “work.” If this is true, then the game of blackjack oilers the promise of complete fulfillment in this sense, since it is certainly a form of adult play. Many psychologists have written about the “altered state of consciousness” that gambling in general tends to produce, but only blackjack gives the player that additional feeling of being in complete control of his own destiny at the same time.
In chapter 2, the playing decisions flowchart illustrates the high degree of player input required to resolve blackjack hands. No other casino game demands such a level of player involvement. The mouthwatering (albeit subconscious) carrot dangled in front of blackjack players nowadays is simply this: Through skillful play, you may never need to work again. This feeling of autonomy, coupled with the knowledge that the game can be beaten, incessantly tantalizes baby boomers and yuppies alike. And it could partially explain the tremendous growth in the blackjack industry, which has been especially evident over the last ten years.
There is no doubt that gambling can produce “highs,” or peak experiences, like nothing else. This accounts for its well-known addictive qualities. While in almost mystical states, players are often transported into fantasy worlds. There they can prove to themselves their “true worth,” and consequently affirm their own existence. (”I play, therefore I am!” with apologies to Descartes.) This may sound too far-fetched to some readers, but please, do not dare dismiss the profound and complex influence that gambling has upon the human psyche.
Many claim that they play blackjack “for the fun of it” and not necessarily to win money. This must be true, since it has been shown that less than 1% of the gambling public actually beats this casino game in the long run. Not being able to articulate the real reasons that they are attracted to the game, others say that, win or lose, just playing simply makes them feel more “alive.”
Blackjack definitely arouses appropriate emotional responses: hope, excitement, euphoria; and/or disappointment, frustration, and regret to name just a few. When we win, our self-esteem swells because we had the courage to risk and the skill to make the right decisions. We feel omnipotent, almost like “heroes.” When we lose, however, we then have the opportunity to silently vent our subliminal anger, hostility, and aggression upon the dealer and cards specifically and the casino and our hard-knock life in general. In either case we are definitely involved. Someone once said, “The most exciting thing about playing blackjack is winning; the second most exciting thing is losing.”
If you expect to be a long-term winner playing blackjack, you should be aware of the powerful lure such altered states of consciousness can have upon your mind. You must develop a game plan and follow it religiously. Otherwise, instead of your controlling the game, the game will end up controlling you. Blackjack has taken virtual reality to a higher level than any computer-generated program can. Be constantly vigilant, and remind yourself that you are playing primarily to make money and not merely to have fun in these lavish “fantasy environments” so generously provided by the casinos.
