Analysis Of The Article 'The Power Of Habit'

The article, “The Power of Habit” (chapter 9), by Charles Duhigg, is about Angie Bachmann who was addicted to gambling. It all started one day when she felt so lonely that she decided to go out and play in the nearest casino. Angie started by setting rules just so she would not become addicted. As days went by Angie slowly started to break her rules and gambled more than what she should of have. Angie lost a lot of money. Although, Harrah’s casino would send her free stuff and vacation trips to get Angie to play more. Angie realized that she had a problem with gambling and went away for a time, but she went back to Harrah’s casino when her parents inherit her money. Angie lost all the money that she inherited and started to get loans

Angie started by breaking the rules that she had set for herself. “Bachmann’s rules gradually became more flexible as the size of her winnings and losses expanded.” (Duhigg 249) When someone breaks a rule, especially in gambling you will have to come to a conclusion that there is going to be a problem in the future. An example is Shirley from the article “How the Brain Gets Addicted to Gambling”; she “was convicted of stealing a great deal of money from her clients and spent two years in prison.” (American 1) Angie should have known better to quit at that moment that her losses expanded and when she stopped keeping track of herself. In my opinion, Angie realized that she had a problem with gambling when she started going to the casino every day and it would have been the perfect timing for her to quit. “The only mistake I made was not quitting.” (Duhigg 249) Immediately she should have seen that as a red flag and should have come to the conclusion that she is fully responsible for what she does. Instead of quitting she pursue winning back all of her losses, which is impossible “compulsive gamblers pursue ever riskier ventures.” (American 2) Pursuing something that is not good, in her case gambling, can lead to riskier ventures like it is said; she lost a lot of money and the line of credit of her home. To add on, Angie was

“She knew gambling could lead to trouble.” (Duhigg 247) if she knew that then why lie to herself that she was not an addict. Furthermore, Angie said, “I know how to play” (Duhigg 249) if she knew how to play like she says then why did she lose a lot of money. “It may seem irrational for anyone to believe they can beat the house in a casino…A gambler can consistently win over time, though, if he or she memorized the complicated formulas and odds that guide how each hand should be played. Most players, however, don’t have the discipline or mathematical skills to beat the house.” (Duhigg 249) As it is said Angie did not know how to play, so she lied to herself because she never mentions of having mathematical skills or memorizing something when she gamble. As a matter of fact, Angie accepted the offers that Harrah’s casino would give her like the limo rides, coupons, diamonds, and other luxury stuff. I think Angie knew that all these luxuries were not going to be free especially when they were given often, at some point, there would have to be a cost because nothing in this world is free. She lied to herself by not thinking that there would be a cost/consequence for accepting these “gifts”. In all honesty, Angie lied to herself making believe that she is capable of winning back the money that she lost by imagining that those near misses are going to get her somewhere