To be a good poker player, you need to learn useful tricks and develop unique strategies. But to be a spectacular poker pro, you need to be emotionally involved when you play online poker.
You must be excited, determined, and some will say – passionate – to take your poker skills to a whole new level. However, if you are not careful enough, your strong suit can turn into your downfall.
How can your passion for the game benefit your poker play? And in what situations can it harm your ability to play poker online? Now is your chance to find out what your love for poker can say about your winning chances and general well-being!
Harmonious vs. Obsessive Passion for Poker
Multiple studies discussed the effects your passion for poker can have on your life. But before we delve further into the matter, it is important to understand why passion is such a big part of playing poker and what types of passion you might experience while gambling.
Understandably, poker is an intense game. Players often invest a lot of time and money in poker, which creates a special emotional connection to the game that often comes across as passion.
Some will experience a more harmonious passion, which doesn't affect their sense of self or their ability to participate in other activities – even though poker has a significant place in their lives. Those players are in complete control of their emotions when they gamble.
On the other hand, players might also experience obsessive passion, which can take over their life and leave little room for other activities. Those players might feel out of control, unable to stop playing poker when necessary.
How Different Types of Passion Affect Poker Players
In a study published in 2017, researchers – experts from the psychoeducation department in the University of Quebec – wanted to examine how both types of passion can affect poker players.
According to their findings, most poker players experience harmonious passion, which means they are in complete control of their actions. However, those who are prone to feel obsessive passion were more likely to be at risk of developing a gambling problem. They also tended to use online platforms to place bets and gamble on multiple types of activities. Moreover, they had higher scores for anxiety, depression, and impulsivity.
Another study reported by the NIH concluded that harmonious passion leads to higher levels of well-being. Therefore, it positively affects the players' quality of life. Obsessive passion, however, had the exact opposite effect on people.
Researchers also found that the level of the players' expertise was also an important factor that can affect well-being. Apparently, the more experienced the player is - the more likely he is to experience harmonious passion. In return, it can positively affect their outlook on life.
In Conclusion
Your approach to poker can greatly affect your ability to enjoy the game and make the most of it. Yes, it is important to be passionate about poker. But you have to be careful not to lose control while placing bets.
Online poker players who allow obsessive passion to take over their life will experience some severe consequences. They are more likely to develop gambling problems, experience reduced quality of life, and let anxiety and depression into their lives.
Taking all of those facts into account, it is clear that obsessive passion should be avoided if possible. So, if you notice that playing poker brings negativity into your life, you should take a step back from poker. But if you manage to remain in complete control of your faculties when placing bets, you will be able to enjoy the game alongside some harmonious passion!