Just as certain individuals are more vulnerable to addiction than others, it is also the case that some objects, by virtue of their unique pharmacologic or structural characteristics, are more likely than others to trigger or accelerate an …mode of wagering. Without waiting for “horses to run, a dealer to shuffle or deal, or a roulette wheel to stop spinning,” it is possible to complete a game every three to four seconds.[^71] To use the terminology of behavioral psychology, t…
Howard J. Shaffer
scientist · 2 mentions across 1 reading
In this course
Shaffer appears to be a researcher specializing in addiction and behavioral vulnerability, particularly as it relates to gambling and machine design. The course readings invoke his framework to argue that certain technologies—especially those enabling rapid-cycle reward loops like slot machines or algorithmic systems—exploit psychological susceptibilities in ways that differ fundamentally from older forms of play. His work enables a critical account of how computational speed and interface design create novel forms of compulsive engagement, central to understanding how digital systems can be engineered to capture attention and behavior.
Mentioned in 1 reading
Appears alongside
People mentioned in the same passages — sorted by co-occurrence weight.