Beware of Reptile-Induced Arousal
September 19th, 2017 at 4:42:40 PM
permalink
Earlier this week the 2017 Ig Noble prizes were awarded. If you're not familiar with this, "the Ig Nobel Prizes honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". This year the prize in Economics was for an experiment to see how contact with a live crocodile affects a person's willingness to gamble:
"Never Smile at a Crocodile: Betting on Electronic Gaming Machines is Intensified by Reptile-Induced Arousal," Journal of Gambling Studies, vol. 26, no. 4, December 2010, pp. 571-81.. To quote the abstract:
Tourists at the Koorana Saltwater Crocodile Farm in Coowonga, Queensland, Australia, including 62 males and 41 females, aged 18-66 (M = 34.2, SD = 13.3), were randomly assigned to play a laptop-simulated Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) either: (1) prior to entry, or (2) after having held a 1-m saltwater-crocodile. Gambling behavior; including bet-size, speed of betting, final payouts and trials played on the EGM; was investigated with respect to participants' assigned arousal condition, problem-gambling status, and affective state. At-risk gamblers with few self-reported negative emotions placed higher average bets at the EGM after having held the crocodile when compared to the control. In contrast, at-risk gamblers with many self-reported negative emotions placed lower average bets at the EGM after having held the crocodile.
Personally, I'm more into cats and dogs so I guess I'm safe.
"Never Smile at a Crocodile: Betting on Electronic Gaming Machines is Intensified by Reptile-Induced Arousal," Journal of Gambling Studies, vol. 26, no. 4, December 2010, pp. 571-81.. To quote the abstract:
Tourists at the Koorana Saltwater Crocodile Farm in Coowonga, Queensland, Australia, including 62 males and 41 females, aged 18-66 (M = 34.2, SD = 13.3), were randomly assigned to play a laptop-simulated Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) either: (1) prior to entry, or (2) after having held a 1-m saltwater-crocodile. Gambling behavior; including bet-size, speed of betting, final payouts and trials played on the EGM; was investigated with respect to participants' assigned arousal condition, problem-gambling status, and affective state. At-risk gamblers with few self-reported negative emotions placed higher average bets at the EGM after having held the crocodile when compared to the control. In contrast, at-risk gamblers with many self-reported negative emotions placed lower average bets at the EGM after having held the crocodile.
Personally, I'm more into cats and dogs so I guess I'm safe.
My goal of being well informed conflicts with my goal of remaining sane.
September 19th, 2017 at 5:10:47 PM
permalink
Sounds like a croc to me
September 19th, 2017 at 6:49:27 PM
permalink
Never underestimate new casino promotions.
Future patron arrives at Black Jack table and sees that hot female dealer was replaced by cold crocodile. Only thing confusing is the reptiles' skimpy clothing.
Future patron arrives at Black Jack table and sees that hot female dealer was replaced by cold crocodile. Only thing confusing is the reptiles' skimpy clothing.
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
