What Is Gambling?
Gambling is putting something of value, with the consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on the outcome of a game, a contest, or an uncertain event. It is usually done for money, but it can be for other items of value as well (e.g., sports memorabilia). Betting on an event whose result is entirely based on luck is gambling, as is betting on a horse race or the outcome of a football match. In addition to the obvious financial gains, gamblers may also expect pleasure and gratification from their activity, as in the case of winning the jackpot on a slot machine.
A person who is addicted to gambling experiences an intense compulsion to gamble, even when doing so causes harm. Their behavior is out of control, and they often engage in denial or minimization, trying to hide their problem from others or from themselves. They may also use a variety of coping strategies, such as hiding credit cards or lying about how much time they spend gambling.
The urge to gamble is fueled by chemical changes in the brain. When a person gambles, their brain releases dopamine, a chemical that triggers feelings of pleasure and reward. Normally, dopamine is released for healthy behaviors like spending time with loved ones or eating a nutritious meal. However, people with a gambling disorder often experience massive surges of dopamine from their gambling activities, which can have damaging effects on their thoughts and feelings. They tend to seek these rewards more and more, while avoiding healthier activities.
People with a gambling disorder often engage in several forms of therapy to help them recover from their addiction. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on unconscious processes that influence behavior and can help a person better understand their motivations. Family therapy can be helpful in reestablishing trust and creating a more stable environment for family members who have been affected by the gambler’s actions. Group therapy is another option, in which a group of people meet with a mental health professional to describe and discuss their problems together.
Some of the most effective therapies are those that focus on identifying and modifying a patient’s cognitive and motivational biases, which can lead to excessive gambling. Changing these biases can reduce the gambler’s tendency to engage in denial and minimize, rationalize, or deny their gambling problems.
Research into the etiology of pathological gambling is best conducted using longitudinal designs. These designs allow researchers to identify factors that moderate or exacerbate gambling participation over time, and they enable the inference of causality. Unfortunately, research on pathological gambling has been hampered by eclectic theoretic conceptualizations of its etiology. These models have led to mixed results in treating the disorder. To improve treatment outcomes, it is important to develop a more unified model of its etiology. Ultimately, this will allow for more targeted and cost-efficient interventions to address the problem of pathological gambling.
Gambling is putting something of value, with the consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on the outcome of a game, a contest, or an uncertain event. It is usually done for money, but it can be for other items of value as well (e.g., sports memorabilia). Betting on an event whose result is entirely…