Gambling Case Study

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Though gambling may seem appealing at first as an easy way to make money quickly, the odds are never in the gambler's favor. There are two main motivations for gamblers: "[They] may be broadly classified under two non-mutually exclusive types of motivation: the desire for positively reinforcing subjective excitement and arousal; and the desire for the negatively reinforcing relief or escape from stress or negative emotional states" (Psychology of Gambling, 2010, p. 12). For most people who gamble, it represents the lavish lifestyle of a successful gambler, opportunity, or a wealthy lifestyle. However, they typically end up receiving the exact opposite, especially if they acquire pathological gambling or a gambling problem. Gambling addiction can be just as serious as any other …show more content…

As well as increasing risky behavior, a National Council on Problem Gambling study shows that it decreases protective factors related to anti social behavior and substance use, resulting in the afore mentioned binge drinking and drug addiction (Whyte, 2014, para. 5). Some pathological gamblers have been reported having lower norepinephrine than non-problem gamblers. Some believe that the risk seeking and arousal that pathological gamblers seek is a result of this low dosage of norepinephrine (Reviewing Two Types of Addiction - Pathological Gambling and Substance Use, January-March, 2012, para. 14). In fact, the DSM5 recently reclassified gambling addiction from the impulse control disorders category to the substance addictions category, making gambling addiction the first official behavioral addiction (Clark, 2015, para. 1). This change relates to the common overlap that occurs between gambling addiction and substance abuse (Clark, 2015, para. 8). Luke Clark comments on the relationship between substance abuse, risky behavior, and

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