Gambling Flashcards
What is the definition of addiction according to Marlatt et al. (1988)?
A repetitive habit pattern that increases the risk of disease and/or associated personal and social problems, often experienced subjectively as ‘loss of control’.
This behavior continues despite attempts to abstain or moderate use, characterized by immediate gratification with long-term costs.
What are the components of the biopsychosocial model of addiction?
- Salience
- Mood modification
- Tolerance
- Withdrawal
- Conflict
- Relapse
(Griffiths, 1995; 1996; 2005; 2009, 2019)
What does ‘salience’ refer to in the context of addiction?
When the activity becomes the most important activity in the person’s life, dominating their thinking, feelings, and behavior.
It involves preoccupations, cravings, and deterioration of socialized behavior.
What is ‘reverse salience’ as described by Griffiths (2005)?
When the addictive activity becomes the most important thing in a person’s life when prevented from engaging in it.
This often occurs with substance addictions where individuals do not realize their addiction until the substance is taken away.
Define ‘mood modification’ in the context of addiction.
People use addictions to change their mood, either to get buzzed or to de-stress and relax.
They may use substances at different times for varying mood effects.
What does ‘tolerance’ mean in addiction?
The need for more of the substance/behavior to achieve the same effect or mood modifier.
For example, needing to gamble more or with larger stakes.
What are the symptoms of withdrawal in addiction?
- Physiological symptoms: nausea, hand sweating, stomach cramps
- Psychological symptoms: increased frustration, anxiety, irritability
If withdrawal effects are absent when stopping the behavior, it may indicate a lack of genuine addiction.
What does ‘conflict’ refer to in addiction?
Conflicts with various parts of life, such as relationships, work, and intra-psychic conflicts.
This includes wanting to stop but feeling unable to do so.
What is a ‘relapse’ in the context of addiction?
A return to previous levels of use after having managed to control or quit completely.
This applies to alcohol, drugs, or gambling.
How has gambling addiction changed the understanding of addiction?
Gambling addiction is now accepted in psychiatric and medical texts as a behavioral addiction, reclassified from an impulse control disorder.
It has prompted discussions about the existence of other behavioral addictions.
What is the definition of gambling?
The staking of money (or something of financial value) on a future event with an unknown outcome.
(Griffiths, 1995)
List the four types of gambling identified by Perkins (1950).
- Gaming
- Betting
- Lotteries
- Speculation
Examples include fruit machines for gaming and investing in shares for speculation.
What are some trends in gambling behaviors?
- Gambling becoming technologized
- Gambling moving out of traditional environments
- Convergence of gambling and gaming
- Increased asocial gambling
- Rise in ‘in-play’ betting
- Mass deregulation and increased accessibility
- Increased attention to player protection
These trends indicate shifts in how gambling is engaged with and regulated.
What is the prevalence of harmful gambling among UK adults?
- 0.5% harmed from gambling behaviors
- 3.8% ‘at-risk’
- 7% harmed by others’ gambling
(Dellosa & Browne, 2024; Gambling Commission, 2023; 2024)
How does gambling addiction differ from harmful gambling?
Gambling addiction refers to any repetitive gambling leading to significant negative consequences, while harmful gambling may occur without addiction.
Harm can range from inconsequential to significant, and addiction can precede harmful gambling.
What are the DSM-3 criteria for Pathological Gambling?
A) Chronically unable to resist impulses to gamble
B) Gambling disrupts family, personal, and vocational pursuits
C) Not due to Antisocial Personality Disorder
At least three specific behaviors indicate disruption.
What are the DSM-5 criteria for Gambling Disorder?
Four or more of the following:
* Preoccupation with gambling
* Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money
* Unsuccessful efforts to control gambling
* Restlessness or irritability when attempting to cut down
* Escaping problems through gambling
* Chasing losses
* Lying to conceal gambling involvement
* Jeopardizing relationships or opportunities
* Relying on others for financial relief
Gambling behavior must not be better accounted for by a Manic Episode.
What are some motivations for gambling?
- Recreational factors
- Social factors
- Monetary factors
- Coping factors
- Enhancement factors
These motivations influence why individuals engage in gambling.
What are some individual characteristics that influence gambling behaviors?
- Unconscious motivation
- Learning and conditioning
- Biological processes
- Demographic factors
- Personality traits
- Thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes
Males tend to gamble more, while females are more likely to gamble online.
What are types of irresponsible advertising in gambling?
- Adverts attractive to children
- Adverts using sex to sell gambling
- Adverts claiming gambling solves problems
- Adverts featuring gambling in the workplace
- Adverts implying skill in gambling
- Adverts promoting excessive gambling
- Adverts causing offense based on demographics
These types of advertising can lead to harmful perceptions and behaviors.
What are some examples of online harm minimization strategies in gambling?
- Mandatory play breaks
- Limit setting
- Messaging (static vs dynamic)
- Pop-up messaging
- Personalized messaging
- Temporary self-exclusions
- AI Behavioral tracking tools
These strategies aim to reduce gambling-related harms using technology.
What is a public health approach to gambling harms?
Gambling harm is considered ‘everyone’s business’ and involves policy, legislation, and educational programs.
This approach faces various challenges in implementation.
What is the social identity approach to understanding addiction?
A psycho-social intervention viewing the individual as part of a system involving themselves and social norms.
It includes mutual sharing groups and social identity mapping as recovery aids.
