Problem gambling is best understood from a biopsychosocial perspective, whereby multifaceted biological, psychological, and socio-environmental factors interact in ways that may lead to individual risk. Reinforcement contingencies and operant conditioning appear to play particularly important etiological roles. Theoretically, operant conditioning approaches should therefore comprise particularly effective treatment strategies. While operant conditioning in the form of contingency management is known to be an effective treatment for alcohol and substance abuse, it has never been applied by clinical practitioners in community-based treatment for problem gambling. The present pilot study explored the utility of adding concrete reward contingencies to community outpatient treatment, from the perspectives of clinical effectiveness and client/counsellor experiences. At 3-month follow-up, clinical outcomes compared well to typical treatment outcomes, and treatment retention appeared to be superior. Participating clients perceived concrete rewards to be moderately effective in the change process, while active therapist acceptance of this technique appeared to be limited. / xi, 186 leaves ; 29 cm. --

There is an extensive range of problems and maladaptive behaviours for which people may seek counselling. One of these is problem gambling. The extent of gambling in the community and the incidence of gambling problems have become issues of great concern to many in the Australian community. Counselling in the face-to-face setting may not be available or appropriate for some individuals with gambling difficulties. Potential barriers to the provision of counselling services for problem gamblers means that innovative techniques for counselling service delivery must be developed and evaluated. Provision of counselling services using modern telecommunications technology is one such innovative strategy. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc. Psychology)--University of Waikato, 2008. / Title from PDF cover (viewed August 26, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-109)

Doctorat en Sciences psychologiques et de l'éducation / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

<p>The aim of this study is to gain an increased knowledge and deeper understanding of compulsive gambling and its consequences in today‟s society. Gambling addiction will be described and analysed by a selection of experts, therapists and people with an addictive gambling background. The basis of the empirical research has been undertaken by a qualitative design with interviews consisting of three fundamental themes. The research group of eight participants included four gamblers, two therapists and two specialists. The knowledge perspective focused on the entire „hermenuetisk‟ circle - before, during and after a gambling period. The entry phase into a gambling game showed the reality in which the gambler could feel alive and excited. When participating in gambling, addicts are mentally active and engaged. Therefore, they often experience a sense of being good at what they are doing, which provides them with a purpose. However, the post gambling period sees this sense of meaningfulness dissolve into feelings of guilt, anxiety and failure. During the rehabilitation gamblers experienced anxiety and a powerful lure to play, but if these feelings are conquered they finally feel a sense of release and freedom from gambling. The psychological study showed that the power of gambling provided addicts with a short-term feeling of strength and belonging, as their gambling experiences created an identity. A social study focuses on the gambler‟s own interpretations of their gambling experiences. This provides an insight into the gamblers reality that governs the behavioural patterns of an addict. According to a cognitive perspective, various emotional events provide gamblers with fulfilment during the gambling and then either euphoria from winning or disillusionment from losing.<em></em></p> / <p>Studiens syftet var att få ökad kunskap och förståelsen kring spelberoende i dagens samhälle samt följder därav. Följande övergripande frågeställning var i fokus: Hur beskriver och kommenterar ett urval av experter, behandlare samt personer med spelberoendebakgrund sina erfarenheter av spelproblematiken idag? Forskningsunderlagets empiriska material har bearbetats utifrån en kvalitativ design med intervjuer bestående av tre grundläggande teman på åtta deltagare varav fyra brukare, två behandlare och två specialister. Det epistemologiska synsättet fokuserades på helheten av karakteriserande tolkning utifrån en hermenuetisk cirkel samt tematisering före, under och efter en spelperiod. Vägen in i spel visade den faktiska verkligheten som innebar att få uppleva sig själv som existerande. Att spela innebar att vara duktig, aktiv och engagerande men att spela i ett senare skede innebar att meningsfullhet förbyttes mot skuldkänslor, ångest och misslyckande. Vägen ut ur spel visade en falsk känsla av beständighet, att må dåligt under behandlingstiden, känna ångest och ha spelsug men som förbyttes till befrielse efter behandlingen. I existentialistiskt perspektiv visade resultatet att makten över spelet innebar kraft och styrka genom att spelaren byggde upp sin identitet på optimala upplevelser. Utifrån socalkonstruktivistisk perspektiv speglades omgivande faktorer genom spelarens egen tolkning, och upplevelsen var att verkligheten utgjorde den kunskap som styrde beteendet. Enligt kognitivt perspektiv var strukturer sammankopplade i en process som innebar en positiv förankring men som i ett senare skede innebar lust eller olustkänslor.</p>

The aim of this study is to gain an increased knowledge and deeper understanding of compulsive gambling and its consequences in today‟s society. Gambling addiction will be described and analysed by a selection of experts, therapists and people with an addictive gambling background. The basis of the empirical research has been undertaken by a qualitative design with interviews consisting of three fundamental themes. The research group of eight participants included four gamblers, two therapists and two specialists. The knowledge perspective focused on the entire „hermenuetisk‟ circle - before, during and after a gambling period. The entry phase into a gambling game showed the reality in which the gambler could feel alive and excited. When participating in gambling, addicts are mentally active and engaged. Therefore, they often experience a sense of being good at what they are doing, which provides them with a purpose. However, the post gambling period sees this sense of meaningfulness dissolve into feelings of guilt, anxiety and failure. During the rehabilitation gamblers experienced anxiety and a powerful lure to play, but if these feelings are conquered they finally feel a sense of release and freedom from gambling. The psychological study showed that the power of gambling provided addicts with a short-term feeling of strength and belonging, as their gambling experiences created an identity. A social study focuses on the gambler‟s own interpretations of their gambling experiences. This provides an insight into the gamblers reality that governs the behavioural patterns of an addict. According to a cognitive perspective, various emotional events provide gamblers with fulfilment during the gambling and then either euphoria from winning or disillusionment from losing. / Studiens syftet var att få ökad kunskap och förståelsen kring spelberoende i dagens samhälle samt följder därav. Följande övergripande frågeställning var i fokus: Hur beskriver och kommenterar ett urval av experter, behandlare samt personer med spelberoendebakgrund sina erfarenheter av spelproblematiken idag? Forskningsunderlagets empiriska material har bearbetats utifrån en kvalitativ design med intervjuer bestående av tre grundläggande teman på åtta deltagare varav fyra brukare, två behandlare och två specialister. Det epistemologiska synsättet fokuserades på helheten av karakteriserande tolkning utifrån en hermenuetisk cirkel samt tematisering före, under och efter en spelperiod. Vägen in i spel visade den faktiska verkligheten som innebar att få uppleva sig själv som existerande. Att spela innebar att vara duktig, aktiv och engagerande men att spela i ett senare skede innebar att meningsfullhet förbyttes mot skuldkänslor, ångest och misslyckande. Vägen ut ur spel visade en falsk känsla av beständighet, att må dåligt under behandlingstiden, känna ångest och ha spelsug men som förbyttes till befrielse efter behandlingen. I existentialistiskt perspektiv visade resultatet att makten över spelet innebar kraft och styrka genom att spelaren byggde upp sin identitet på optimala upplevelser. Utifrån socalkonstruktivistisk perspektiv speglades omgivande faktorer genom spelarens egen tolkning, och upplevelsen var att verkligheten utgjorde den kunskap som styrde beteendet. Enligt kognitivt perspektiv var strukturer sammankopplade i en process som innebar en positiv förankring men som i ett senare skede innebar lust eller olustkänslor.

published_or_final_version / Criminology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (MEdPsych)-- Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adolescent gambling is regarded as one of the relatively new areas of interest within the wider field of adolescent risk behaviour, with international research highlighting the rise in popularity of various gambling games and the associated behavioural, emotional, academic, interpersonal and psychological outcomes that have been linked to adolescent gambling. These trends raise concern with regard to the youth in South Africa, as the overall risk profile of risk behaviours among South African adolescents is comparable to the risk profiles of youths around the globe. Research in the field of adolescent gambling is still in its infancy in South Africa and additional literature is necessary to curb possible problems in this area. The methodology of this study can be described as basic exploratory qualitative research. The study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm and was also informed by ecosystemic theory. Purposive sampling was used to select twenty-six adolescent learners who were enrolled at a single, private, all boys' school in the Western Cape. The methods of data collection included semi-structured focus group and individual interviews. The method of analysis employed to analyse the research data was qualitative content analysis. The research findings from the study indicated that the participants had a clear understanding of the concept of gambling, the associated activities and possible risks linked to gambling, as well as the various motives for participating in gambling activities. Congruent with international findings, the popularity of poker was acknowledged, with a number of adolescents discussing their awareness of their peers' participation in this gambling activity. Whilst financial reward was recognised as a possible outcome of gambling, the majority of the participants regarded social reward and entertainment as some of the key motivating factors for participation in gambling during adolescence. While acknowledging the role of skill in games such as poker, the majority of the participants were still of the opinion that the outcome was largely unpredictable. In addition, the following factors were identified as playing a fundamental role in shaping their perceptions of gambling: media, family, peers, school, religion, personality and personal experiences. Keywords: Adolescence, Perception, Gambling, Pathological Gambling, Problem Gambling, Risk Behaviour, Ecosystemic Theory. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Adolessente dobbelary word gesien as een van die nuwer belangstellingsvelde binne die breër gebied van navorsing oor riskante gedrag onder adolessente, met internasionale navorsing wat toegespits word op die toename in die gewildheid van verskeie dobbelspeletjies en die daarmee gepaardgaande gedrags-, emosionele, akademiese, interpersoonlike en psigologiese uitkomste wat met adolessente dobbelary verbind word. Hierdie tendens wek kommer ten opsigte van die jeug in Suid-Afrika daar die algehele risikoprofiel van riskante gedrag onder Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente vergelykbaar is met die risikoprofiel van jeugdiges reg rondom die wêreld. Navorsing op die gebied van adolessente dobbelary in Suid-Afrika is nog in 'n beginstadium en daar is 'n behoefte aan bykomende literatuur om moontlike probleme binne hierdie gebied te beperk. Die metodologie wat vir hierdie studie gevolg is, kan as basiese verkennende kwalitatiewe navorsing beskryf word. Die studie is teen die agtergrond van die interpretiwistiese paradigma onderneem en is ook toegelig deur die ekosistemiese teorie. Doelbewuste steekproefneming is uitgevoer om ses-en-twintig adolessente leerders uit 'n enkele private seunskool in die Wes-Kaap te selekteer. Data is deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde fokusgroep- en indiwiduele onderhoude ingesamel. Die ontleding van die navorsingsdata is met behulp van kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise uitgevoer. Die bevindings uit die studie het getoon dat die deelnemers 'n duidelike begrip van die dobbelarykonsep, die gepaardgaande aktiwiteite en die moontlike risiko verbonde aan dobbelary gehad het, asook van die onderskeie motiewe vir deelname aan dobbelaktiwiteite. Die gewildheid van die pokerspel is ooreenstemmend met internasionale bevindings bevestig deur middel van 'n gesprek met 'n aantal adolessente oor hul bewustheid van hul portuurgroep se deelname aan hierdie dobbelaktiwiteit. Terwyl die moontlike uitkoms van finansiële wins by dobbelary erken is, het die meerderheid deelnemers die sosiale bate en vermaak as onder die vernaamste motiveringsfaktore vir deelname aan dobbelary gedurende adolessensie beskou. Die rol van vaardigheid in 'n spel soos poker is erken, maar die meerderheid deelnemers het die opinie gehandhaaf dat die resultaat grootliks onvoorspelbaar is. Daarbenewens is die media, gesin, portuurgroep, skool, geloof, persoonlikheid en persoonlike ervarings as grondliggende faktore tot die vorming van persepsies oor dobbelary beskou.

University of Macau / Faculty of Business Administration / Department of Management and Marketing

This study is an exploration, through ethnographic and auto-ethnographic inquiry, of the personal world, gambling experiences and underlying biopsychosocial vulnerabilities of three individual case studies - one male and two females - each representing a different sub-type of pathological gambler. It comprises the integration and implementation of a psycho-structural stage matching model to explore comorbidity and identify certain biopsychosocial manifestations in the respective stages of pathological gambling. Long term treatment strategies were identified and patient treatment matching was explored. Further, it comprises my personal relationship and therapeutic treatment of these sub-types of gamblers over a period of one year and longer. In this study it is hypothesized that formulating appropriate matching long term treatment strategies should be based on the stage of change, the phase in the psycho-structural model, as well as the gambler's underlying vulnerability. From this a comprehensive gambling disposition profile can be completed with proper intervention matching approaches. A number of other hypotheses emerged from this study that could provide valuable information and serve as a guideline to those working with pathological gamblers. / Psychology / D.Phil.