4 of 4

Write now Article Tools

On-line relationships are interesting in the psychological sense because there is a much higher degree of focus on the self. Organism and environmental interactions are the key to understanding any behavior, in on-line poker the environment is reduced to a computer screen, and then to certain sounds and images the appear on the screen. It is these sounds and images that the human organism develops a relationship with. Behavior of both the environment and the organism are reciprocal, the organism does something, the environment does something, it is the dance of these two events that we can verify behavior public and in some cases private of someone.

The "idea" or winning money, and money play into the behavior of the poker player. Money is a generalized reinforcer that brings with it other reinforcer's, such as status, and pride. The conditioning of money goes deep in any poker player, and it is always the "money" the attracts a poker player to the game. Money is representative of a value system in the private life of the poker player. This value system varies between players and processes out differently in each and every one. It is what the money represents to one particular player where the electro/chemical brain activity can be better understood. The joy of winning and the sadness of losing are all combined and based on what ever particular value the player as embedded in to the symbols representing money.

The players reward system will evoke feelings upon the images of the cards one is dealt. The underlying premise is what the cards mean for a particular future event that may occur. The brain, particularly the "new" brain, will analyze the cards value, and release certain electrical/chemical actions, these action are then morphed into behavior. The whole process then repeats it self, if the behavior pays off, then the organism will continuing with the behavior, and visa-versa.

On-line gaming narrows the focus of interaction with others. The player does not "know" that the other player is human or a computer program designed to appear human. This "knowledge" is assumed that the player is playing with other human players on line. Sometimes this can be verified and sometimes not. It is important that this interaction is clarified, as to the validity of an interpersonal relationship and all the ramifications that come with it. The on-line environment creates an illusion of interpersonal relationships, these are true in the sense that verifications and validations occur in the course of the on-line gaming. But it does not rule out that the player is just interacting with a program designed to suggest that it is human.

Nevertheless, the behavior and the enviorment will blend into a whole, and then the result is a "feeling" and it is how the organism respounds to the "feelings" that are being created between enviorment and itself where the real meaning of poker is found. If the organism and enviorment create feelings that result in increased interaction then the player will play more, either win nor lose makes any difference. It is the whole that is created and represented in the player by feelings that charges the behavior with the computer screen, and we hope with another organic player.

Learn more about this author, Kevin J. Putnam.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The psychology of online poker?
We want to hear your view. Write now!