Psychological Effects Of Winning The Lottery

To the casual eye of most, winning the lottery is an ongoing fantasy for many. To envision the idea that in a sudden moment you could be an instant millionaire, a risk that many are willing to take. Statistics have shown that the chances of someone winning is 1 in 175 million. Although, winning the lottery is not likely for those who do win are they really that much better off ("What Are Your Odds")? For most people it’s the possibility of winning big that has brought continual hope throughout the years for a better future (Smith, Jacque Wilson). However, is there a limit of happiness to this fortune and is it actually healthier to lose the lottery then to win? Multiple scholars examine the psychological, behavioral, and social effects of winning the lottery; how it could be beneficial toward individual situations, and in other

... Our pleasure of living is not only based on our current situation, but what could be, what we can imagine our situation could become (Dahl, Melissa)." Northwestern University and the University of Massachusetts tested the theory of pleasure in relation to money by gathering a collection of people to do a survey (Dahl, Melissa). Some were victims that were involved in disastrous accidents and others were winners of the Illinois state lottery that claimed the fortune anywhere from 50 thousand-1 million dollars (Dahl, Melissa). The survey reveals that thoughts who were involved in a traumatic event were actually happier then the lottery winners, and overall both groups that regarded everyday pleasures were closely relatable in there score (Dahl, Melissa). Dahl then references the idea of the “Hedonic adaptation,” which remarks human’s adaptation to even the simplest of things, like new pair of shoes (Dahl, Melissa). However, Quentin Futtrell mentions a counter argument, in regards to financial expert’s assertion about wealth, and how happier money can make you (Fottrell,