In America, state lotteries are thriving with Americans spending more than $100 billion on tickets a year. Yet, the lottery has a long and sometimes rocky history as a game and as a form of taxation.
The word “lottery” comes from the Dutch noun “lot,” which means fate or destiny. The oldest running lottery is the Staatsloterij in the Netherlands, which was founded in 1726. It has since become a popular source of funds for a variety of public usages. Modern lotteries are similar to gambling but require payment for a chance to win, whether it be money or goods. Lotteries may also be used to determine military conscription, commercial promotions in which property is given away by a random procedure, and the selection of jury members from lists of registered voters.
Jackson’s story focuses on the role of tradition, with Old Man Warner arguing that people play because it has always been done. He suggests that there is a connection between the lottery and corn harvest, using a saying such as “Lottery in June—corn will be heavy soon.” In addition to showing how tradition can shape human behavior, this story points out how social pressures influence choices.
Many lottery players are motivated by emotions such as hope, anticipation, and regret. But studies of decision-making suggest that there are other psychological motivations as well. One of these is the tendency to treat small probabilities as though they are larger than they actually are, a phenomenon known as decision weight. Another is the tendency to minimize one’s own responsibility for negative outcomes by blaming them on something external, such as luck.