Gambling
...hat an incentive unique to humans—money—produced patterns of brain activity that closely resembled patterns seen previously in response to other types of rewards. This similarity suggests that common brain circuitry is used for various types of rewards." Anthropological and theological researchers, and behavioral theorists at the University of New Mexico studied gambling throughout history to modern times. Their findings suggest that gambling was originally considered to be a means by which devotees could contact the deities, with one overriding exception in approach: gamblers in the Old World cast lots to divine the will of the gods and to forecast the future, while Native Americans played gambling games to come into harmony with their universe. Researcher Stewart Culin concluded, "In general, games appear to be played ceremonially, as pleasing to the gods, with the object of securing fertility, causing rain, giving and prolonging life, expelling demons, or curing sickness." The anthropological, theological, and psychological conclusions of this study seem to be saying that gamblers, and especially gambling addicts are spiritual seekers. As Anthropologist James Mooney said, gambling is rooted in the "universal longing of mankind to know the cause of things and how effects may be controlled." On the surface they are seeking economic fortune, but they are also seeking a personal transformation, for that feeling of invincibility and liberation, even if for only in the moment of exhilaration. The moment is transitory, and the seeking of further moments is what can sometimes throw the individual out of integrity, causing addict...