Risk represents the only real freedom in a society that is fixated with control.
Humans have an odd fascination with the unknown, whether it is skydiving, stock trading, or asking someone out. However, why? Even when reason tells us to avoid uncertainty, what is it about it that draws us in?
According to psychologists, risk triggers the reward center of the brain. The “feel-good” neurotransmitter dopamine is released when we make a decision in the face of uncertainty. It’s more than just the result. It has to do with the potential. A greater exhilaration is triggered by that slim prospect of success than by a win that is assured.
It’s interesting to note that our risk tolerance varies. Our surroundings, upbringing, and individual experiences all influence it. Some people find leaping to be exhilarating. Others find it frightening. However, danger turns into a mirror in both situations, reflecting our perception of ourselves in the outside world.
Additionally, there is a profound psychological theory known as the “locus of control.” Internal locus people think they control their own fate. They typically take more measured chances. Conversely, people who have an external locus believe that chance or fate govern life. They may choose to completely avoid risk or engage in risky gambling in the hopes that good fortune will intervene.
Additionally, risk satisfies our need for purpose. Stories worth sharing are rarely produced by safe routines. But dangers? They bring about change, lessons, memories, victories, and setbacks. Even our risky failures frequently feel more alive than our too-easy triumphs.
Maybe we pursue danger for the potential to become better versions of ourselves rather than just the pleasure. In one way or another, every wager is a vote of confidence in oneself.