• 07 Feb 2008 at 9:35 AM
  • traders

Addicted To Trading?

“The human brain, these researchers say, responds to high-stakes trading just as it does to the lure of sex. And the riskier the trades get, the more the brain craves them,” Jenny Anderson of the New York Times reports. According to one study, the “brain images of drug addicts who are about to take another hit are indistinguishable from those of traders who are making money and about to place another trade.”
Craving the High That Risky Trading Can Bring [New York Times]

Comments (17)

  1. Posted by Anonymous | February 7, 2008 at 10:16 AM

    this is the second blog i saw today that is posting this article. with no interesting commentary to make it worthwhile. there is nothing here that was not published in the bloomberg magazine feature last year.

  2. Posted by Anonymous | February 7, 2008 at 10:26 AM

    I think I’m addicted to news and blog aggregators. Digg.com is my drug of choice

  3. Posted by Lee D | February 7, 2008 at 10:33 AM

    On the other hand, what sort of commentary can make vacuous quasi-news items like this worthwhile? Media outlets always seem to run press releases from the Institute For Pointing Out The Obvious on slow news days, and any time they think the chattering classes need a collective pause to cluck their tongues and nod eagerly in self-appointed moral superiority. I think it’s the publish-or-perish mentality in academia that drives half-baked medical studies and uncontrolled observations on social behaviour that are so beloved by both researchers and reporters.

  4. Posted by 36th Chamber | February 7, 2008 at 10:34 AM

    Mmm, money.

  5. Posted by Anonymous | February 7, 2008 at 10:49 AM

    “What’s to be done with this ‘Homer Simpson ?”

  6. Posted by Anonymous | February 7, 2008 at 10:51 AM

    maybe i’m wrong, but I thought the point of blogs is to to link articles from other blogs or get a blog to link to your stuff, which basically consists of you gathering someone else’s insight or article and making some kind of snarky comment about it? Isn’t it basically like one big circle jerk? There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of people coming up with new original content. Its more like “there was an interesting article in the FT today, here’s what I think about it.”
    I don’t read this site for “market insight” or Carney’s analysis which is basically unreadable. I read it mostly for the strange/disturbing/funny stuff that is somewhat related to business.

  7. Posted by Anal_yst | February 7, 2008 at 11:24 AM

    Actually the point of a blog is myriad, but ranges from the circle-jerk you so described, to actual insight, the vast majority of which is often reactionary to some degree.
    Cramer was so full of it this morning discussing this issue, saying how whenever he met a trader “like that” he’d fire them immediately. What a raging jackass he is. (now theres some original insight for ya)

  8. Posted by s75 | February 7, 2008 at 11:28 AM

    resolved: cramer = toolbox

  9. Posted by I gots to know | February 7, 2008 at 11:32 AM

    Is Timmy drooling yet?

  10. Posted by lift all the offers | February 7, 2008 at 11:39 AM

    Irrational, risk-seeking behavior by others is what makes trading a worthwhile occupation.

  11. Posted by @ 10:51 | February 7, 2008 at 11:46 AM

    totally agree…although, i dont read everything so it’s good that they post somewhat redundant stuff…re the analysis/insight, yeah, pls pass- theres enough of that from credible/experienced soureces….we’re working w a solid “B” today– potential to get to A-

  12. Posted by 10:16 | February 7, 2008 at 11:53 AM

    it just disappointing bc i know carney is capable of more.
    he must still be suffering the early effects of liquor withdrawal for Lent

  13. Posted by Robert Palmer fan | February 7, 2008 at 12:09 PM

    Might as well face it, you’re additcted to love.
    Might as well face it, you’re additcted to love.
    Might as well face it, you’re additcted to love.

  14. Posted by Patrick Bateman | February 7, 2008 at 12:13 PM

    Did you know that Whitney Houston’s debut LP called simply Whitney Houston had four number-one singles on it? Did you know that, Christie? Whitney’s voice leaps across so many boundaries and is so versatile-though she’s mainly a jazz singer-that it’s hard to take in the album
    on a first listening.

  15. Posted by Deputy Trudy Wiegel | February 7, 2008 at 12:37 PM

    Jennifer and I are addicted to sparklers. I need a light!! I’m addicted to sticks that smoke…it’s my kinda drug…OHHHHH yea! Yeah it was kinda fun

  16. Posted by Anonymous | February 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM

    Bess i can’t tell you how gratifying it is that you have used my comment at 1:07 almost verbatim in your gawker article
    http://www.dealbreaker.com/2008/02/revenge_is_a_gefilte_fish_best.php#comments

  17. Posted by Anonymous | February 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM

    …or because traders are drug addicts? Traders and blow, what a shocker.

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