A Closer Look at the Gambler's Fallacy and the Hot Hand by Stuart Vyse

Stuart Vyse explores new research showing that the long-dismissed "hot hand" in sports may be real once shot difficulty is considered, vindicating athletes' experiences. In contrast, the gambler's fallacy remains alive and well, but recent studies reveal it stems from decision-making biases rather than an inability to understand probabilities, leaving psychologists with fresh questions to investigate. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/a-closer-look-at-the-gamblers-fallacy-and-the-hot-hand/ About the Author: Stuart Vyse is a psychologist and author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, which won the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. He is also author of Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold on to Their Money. As an expert on irrational behavior, he is frequently quoted in the press and has made appearances on CNN International, the PBS NewsHour, and NPR's Science Friday. He can be found on Twitter at @stuartvyse. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.