Final answer:
The person most likely to end up broke due to a gambling addiction is a thrill-seeker. Gambling's unpredictable reinforcement and gambler's fallacy can lead to financial losses, and potential brain chemistry differences in pathological gamblers may play a role in addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual most likely to end up broke due to a gambling addiction is c. Thrill-seeker. This is because thrill-seekers are often driven by the excitement and the rush associated with high-risk activities, such as gambling. They may be more inclined to chase losses or believe that they can beat the odds, despite the variable-ratio reinforcement schedule that makes gambling so unpredictable and potentially addictive. The financial impact of gambling over the long term tends to be negative, as the odds are in favor of the house, meaning most gamblers will come out behind financially .Additionally, understanding of the gambler's fallacy is crucial as it illustrates that each chance event in gambling is independent, and prior outcomes do not influence future results. Despite this, gamblers may erroneously believe that they are 'due' for a win after a losing streak, which can exacerbate their losses. Historical instances, such as those involving George IV, highlight how gambling can lead to significant financial distress, underscoring the risks associated with a gambling addiction. The neuroscience behind gambling addiction suggests there may be differences in the brains of pathological gamblers, although causation is difficult to determine. It could be that gambling affects brain chemistry or that a predisposed difference in brain chemistry leads to addiction. Either way, this points to the complex interaction between neurological factors and addictive behavior.