Gambling is the act of risking something of value on a chance event in the hope of winning something else of value. It is a form of impulse control disorder that can affect a person’s mood and finances. In addition to risk, gambling has three components: prize, risk, and consideration. Let’s take a look at these three components to understand the process of gambling.
Problem gambling is an impulse-control disorder
The inclusion of pathological gambling as a separate disorder in the DSM-III is widely considered a watershed event in the field of gambling studies. The inclusion is largely credited to the work of Dr. Richard J. Rosenthal, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, and co-director of UCLA’s Gambling Studies Program. He has written extensively about the phenomenology and course of problem gambling and its consequences. He has received several research awards, including a lifetime achievement award from the National Council on Problem Gambling. He has also published a number of pieces, including poems and literary studies in the Journal of American Psychiatry.
Currently, there are several treatments for problem gambling. Psychological treatments focus on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people change their negative thinking patterns to increase their ability to resist impulses. CBT may be used to help individuals overcome their gambling addiction.
It affects people’s moods
Gambling affects people’s moods in many ways. While it can help people to relax, it can also increase stress levels. In some cases, gambling is a way to escape from problems and socialize with friends. Other ways to alleviate boredom and stress without gambling include exercising, spending time with non-gambling friends, and practicing relaxation techniques.
Researchers have found that people with gambling problems are more likely to experience negative affect and are twice as likely to experience severe psychological distress than those without gambling problems. People suffering from depression may find that gambling gives them a ‘pick-me-up’, or a feeling of connection with others. This means that addressing the problem should include an understanding of people’s moods.
While gambling can be fun, many people become absorbed in it, which can lead to a downward spiral. This spiral can lead to massive debt and even financial thievery. Similar to drug addiction, gambling addiction requires treatment.