For years, gambling opponents have looked at the activity as a major source of social and family struggles. A new study, however, indicates that gambling may simply be something that is a natural instinct in animals.

A University of Kentucky study that was authored by Psychology Professor Thomas Zentall indicates that pigeons have the same instincts to gamble that humans possess. The results of the study were published this week in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

Professor Zentall took pigeons and allowed them to peck at various lights with the reward being food pellets. On the left side, the pigeons would peck and receive either a red or green light. After a short waiting period, the red light would release ten food pellets. The green light would release zero pellets.

On the right side, the same study was conducted but this time the lights were blue and yellow. The two colors on the right both released three pellets for each peck. The odds on the left side were set at twenty percent. The result was that the pigeons chose to peck to the left more than the right, hoping for the big payout of ten pellets instead of taking the guaranteed three every time.

"There's a basic behavioral, biological process involved that probably affects many different species, and it doesn't require the excitement of a casino," said Zentall. "the misunderstanding of the likelihood of winning, social reinforcement or the publicity of winners. These factors may help, but that's not it. Look at the pigeons."

It is not yet known how political groups will spin the pigeon experiment to prove that gambling is good or bad for a society. What Zentall and his team may have proven, however, is that gambling is an extinct that can be found not only in humans, but in other species as well.

October 15, 2010
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here