individuals may persist in certain behaviors, such as chasing high-risk investments, due to intermittent rewards despite occasional losses
Sounds exactly the way a slot machine works (as in Las Vegas slot machine). Let them hit the jackpot often enough to keep them playing, but not so much as to cut in the rewards.
Exactly that is how they manipulate the prices is the market too. If you know nothing then it is easier for the whales to take your money.