# Why do we gamble and take needless risks?

- Institution: Gresham College
- Speaker: Professor Keith Kendrick
- Year: 2006
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Biology, Medicine and health
- Source: [Gresham College](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/why-do-we-gamble-and-take-needless-risks)
- Licence: [Educational use (Gresham College's terms)](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

It could be said that risk taking, combined with a capacity for being motivated by failure, has allowed the human race to advance at such speed. These characteristics have made major contributions to the success of human artistic, scientific and commercial endeavours. But when we lose control of them they can also drive individuals into gaming pursuits that are obsessive and destructive. How does the brain assess risk and at what point does it become uncontrolled and impulsive with potentially catastrophic consequences?

## Lectures

1. [Why do we gamble and take needless risks?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/why-do-we-gamble-and-take-needless-risks/ab3406b01c26) (YouTube)