Functionalist Theory On Gambling

These gamblers have been responsible and moral in there early lives but are conflict avoiders and have often times suffered from some form of verbal or physical abuse. And now have a desperate need for empowerment and gain it in there escape gambling. These individuals usually poses low self-esteem, and become manipulative as the problem develops. The problem gambler has a far higher probability of long-term cure through abstinence unlike the action gambler these people usually peruse help within 6 months to 3 years of the problems inception.”(Diamond 2001 p.3)

This was the life, sort of. Still young, at least to himself, a pocket full of cash and smokes, and a winning streak that rivaled the high rollers of the most prestigious gambling halls in the small, lively town. And of course, a nice bottle of wine to cap it all off. Strolling down the sidewalk, a cigarette clinging to his lips and passing the stares from other pedestrians like they were nothing.

There are many different forms of gambling. Whether one is betting on a lottery ticket, a horse race, a sports game, or slot machines, to name a few, they are spending money with unfavourable odds of winning that money back. Many people cannot control when they walk away from gambling, as they will continue to bet in an attempt to win back the lost money. The issue is - for the most part - that the losses continue to increase. In Victoria, in the fiscal year of 2000-01, gamblers lost a total of $14.38 billion, including $2.36 billion on the leading cause of losses, poker machines (11). This can result in problem gambling. Based on different surveys in Canada, it is estimated that approximately 1 in 20 Canadians either have a gambling problem, or are at serious risk of obtaining one. 1 in 20 Canadians adds up to 760,800 problem gamblers (12). In the US, an estimated 3 million people are problem gamblers, and another 15 million are at risk of developing gambling problems (13). Problem gambling would not be as severe of an issue if it only harmed the gambler themselves, as it is their choice to gamble and displays a only a lack of self control. The issue is that people are indirectly affected by problem gambling. It can result in problems with personal relationships, neglect of ones family, bankruptcy, and stress related disorders such as depression, or insomnia (14). Problem gambling also has a positive correlation with crime. This means that the more problem gamblers there are, the more crimes are being committed. Statistics from a published survey show that only 3.3% of responsible, low frequency gamblers have been convicted of committing a crime, while a staggering 28.3% of problem gamblers have been convicted at least once (15). These numbers show that problem gamblers do not only harm themselves, but the consequences have a continuous ripple effect,

The harm principle states that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to other individuals. The harm principle applies to Sarah Jones due to her negligence of her (3) minor children. Sarah had been a gambler for over three years, and that time she’s a slightly stressful situation into a major problem addiction. She began betting on bingo but soon that wasn’t a satisfying high any longer. So, Sarah started going to the casino’s. Gambling is an addiction for some, and for her, it was just that. For her to lose $85,000, and have to take out a second mortgage on her house; or to never be at home during the afternoon or evenings that's a serious problem. The fact that she is gone so often that her children aren't getting

Going back into America’s history, the expectations of a woman from the late 1800’s and early 1900s, were to be a good homemaker and wife. Now into the late 1900’s and 2000’s, this role has added on much more responsibility and expectations of today’s woman, such as returning to school and working a full time job, while continuing to take care of home. Though the type of work a woman can execute has changed, it also brings along societal issues. Issues such as: unequal pay wages differentiations between men and women and between different races amongst women, the concern of maternity leave and of course, the struggle of balancing work and a family.

In 2013, the release of the updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) added gambling disorder to the category titled Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2013) In the previous edition of the DSM, gambling, along with other behavioral addictions were in the Impulse Control Disorders category of the DSM-III and DSM-IV (Clark, 2014). Behavioral Addictions are said to be around for hundreds of years. For example, gambling was part of daily life in ancient Greece. (Hekster, 2002). In the first edition of American Psychiatric Association in 1812, there was detailed mention of excessive sexual desire (Rush, 1812). Yet, behavioral

“Pathological gambling is excessive risk taking exaggerated to an especially destructive extreme.” This is the way Dr. Ted and Brad Klontz open their chapter on the destructive behavior that is gambling (Klontz, B., & Klontz, T, 2009). As the authors describe gambling is a habit that becomes like a drug as people, mostly men, continue to gamble to make themselves feel better about themselves or to escape their present reality. The biggest danger of this disorder is that it is one that people try to hide from others the most, and are very hesitant to admit that their gambling is an addiction.

There are many reasons as to why there are such varying results in the current body of research surrounding the notion of a relationship between problem gambling and personality traits. One of the reasons explored in some papers, is the fact that there are possible subtypes of problem gamblers, with each subtype producing different results in personality tests, showing that there are further differences within the population of individuals with gambling issues (MacLaren, Best, Dixon, & Harrigan, 2011; Myrseth, Pallesen, Molde, Johnsen, & Lorvik, 2009). The differences in the results of the subgroups indicate that it may not be feasible to generalise problem gambling and certain personality traits (MacLaren, Best, Dixon, & Harrigan, 2011).

Gambling is an entertainment that we all know about, and it is also well known by the “easy-addicted characteristic”. You must have seen or at least heard about some stories that is about gambling. No matter it’s a story about people become rich, or a family be ruined. “The National Council on

According to the American Psychological Association, people with an irresistibility to gamble have a mental disorder (Fay). People get caught in the trap of compulsive gambling because of many contributing factors. In a survey done before the Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act, the top factors that show why people resort to online gambling instead of land-based casinos are convenience, ease, and comfort (Wood, Williams, and Lawton). The three reasons mean that people will most likely choose to stay at home and gamble more often. People will gamble online more often than going to a casino because the internet provides the gamblers with faster speed and instant pleasure (Hammer). Pleasure contributes to the path of a gambling addict. Gamblers

To assess risk based on gambling we will use 10 questions from the NORC DSM-IV Screen for Gambling Problems (NODS). Past scores of this test have been very reliable, with scores r= 0.99 and 0.98, by Gerstein et. al (1999). This test assesses 10 different categories of risk taking while gambling (preoccupation, tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, escape, chasing, lying, illegal acts, risked relationships, and bailout). To account for the difference in the number of test questions we will use one question from each category. In accordance with the measurement will use with the original scale we will rate high risk behaviors as those that occur in three to four of the previously mentioned categories, moderate risk as those that have behaviors occurring in one to two categories, and low risk as no problem in any category. To make these scores compatible with the ones previously mentioned, we will assign high risk behaviors six points, moderate risk two points, and low risk zero

Orford, Morison, and Somers (1996) did a study which compared 16 problem drinkers and16 problem gamblers. The results of the study showed alcoholics and gamblers were equally attached to their habit. The study found gambling was maintained as a result of recurring processes involving prominent, negative feelings associated with gambling losses, shortage of money, and the need to keep gambling a secret (Orford et. al, 1996). However, the study also found alcoholics scored higher on the severity of dependence scale. These showed gamblers have lower levels of withdrawal of both physical and psychological

Gambling in the words of McLean and Yoder (2005) "means risking something of value, usually money, on an event that has an unknown outcome." In the opinion of the authors, gambling can assume various forms including but not in any way limited to "casino games, betting on sporting events, playing bingo, buying raffle tickets, and playing lotteries" (McLean and Yoder, 2005). Over time, gambling has grown in popularity with the same being legalized in many jurisdictions across the world. However, those opposed to gambling and the legalization of the same continue to cite various reasons in an attempt to backup their assertions. One of the reasons cited by those opposed to gambling according to McLean and Yoder (2005) is that the costs of gambling easily outweigh the benefits associated with the same. This argument advances the idea that the interests of the society override those of an individual. Thus the

Women in the last thirty years or so have fought for equality among the sexes in all forms. The Women?s movement have fought hard to change this socially constructed view of our society. Due to this double burden placed on working mothers there is a far greater demand on their bodies and an increasingly likelihood of illness in many forms as well as psychological trauma such as depression and anxiety due to the constant workload. Females in the past were argued as having a less likelihood of illness because they were not as abundant in the workforce thus giving them more relaxation time.

There are several concerns regarding the ethics of gambling whether in an online setting or in a public setting. Gambling has many benefits for both gamblers and casinos, but it’s crucial to acknowledge the psychological repercussions of gambling as it isn’t always just “harmless fun.” We can consider the negative and positive implications of gambling on non-gamblers as well. However, how would ethical theories and perspectives differ in their approach to the effects of gambling? When people think of gambling, they usually see flashing Vegas casinos and large sums of cash. The gambling arena is much larger just as the significance of the effects gambling has on the casinos and people involved. Gambling addiction is a very prevalent factor