Psychology Of Gambling Online
Addiction is a chronic disorder with biological, psychological, social and environmental factors influencing its development and maintenance. About half the risk for addiction is genetic. Genes affect the degree of reward that individuals experience when initially using a substance (e.g., drugs) or engaging in certain behaviors (e.g., gambling), as well as the way the body processes alcohol or other drugs. Heightened desire to re-experience use of the substance or behavior, potentially influenced by psychological (e.g., stress, history of trauma), social (e.g., family or friends' use of a substance), and environmental factors (e.g., accessibility of a substance, low cost) can lead to regular use/exposure, with chronic use/exposure leading to brain changes.
These brain changes include alterations in cortical (pre-frontal cortex) and sub-cortical (limbic system) regions involving the neuro-circuitry of reward, motivation, memory, impulse control and judgment. This can lead to dramatic increases in cravings for a drug or activity, as well as impairments in the ability to successfully regulate this impulse, despite the knowledge and experience of many consequences related to the addictive behavior.
- Apr 23, 2019 The media and advertising agencies understand the psychology of gambling and often portray a stylish, sexy, fashionable image of gambling. In film and TV, we see characters enjoying a night at the casino or an afternoon at the races. There is often a suggestion of 'high society' and attending at 'a place to be seen'. Why Do People Gamble?
- This project would be part of an ongoing programme of research on psychological factors associated with the impact of the Internet, including the use of Online Virtual Environments (VLEs), Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs), Online Gambling sites, Social Networking Sites (SNS) and other forms of online media and technology.
The Psychology of Gambling. Gambling is inextricably linked with humankind and can be traced all the way back to the Paleolithic period. To put this in perspective, we’re talking about 3000BC – an age that actually pre-dates written history.
Adapted from the Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
Div. 50 (Society of Addiction Psychology) promotes advances in research, professional training and clinical practice within the broad range of addictive behaviors including problematic use of alcohol, nicotine and other drugs and disorders involving gambling, eating, sexual behavior or spending.
What You Can Do
- Understanding How People Change is First Step in Changing Unhealthy Behavior
Stages-of-change research has been used to develop dozens of behavior change programs, including HIV prevention, to help people live longer, healthier lives. - How Psychologists Improve Care
Medications have been the gold standard for treating opioid use disorder, but behavioral interventions can improve treatment for opioid addiction and address the comorbid conditions that go along with it. - Life-saving supports
Psychologist-designed programs that include housing, work and family interventions for people with opioid use disorder show promise.
Research on Addiction
- Prevention as the first line of defense
By teaching people to manage pain without opioids, psychologists are helping to prevent those at risk from sliding into misuse
- Breaking free from addiction
Learn more about effective behavioral and pharmaceutical therapies to treat addiction.
- Psychology’s Unique Role in Addressing the Opioid Crisis
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. With many people affected from prescription and nonprescription opioid abuse and overdose deaths, psychological science and psychologists can help.
- Cell phone addiction rings true for teen psychologist
High school senior Michelle Hackman won a $75,000 college scholarship with a project on cell-phone addiction.
- Fighting food addiction
Yale University graduate student Ashley Gearhardt has found connections between substance abuse and food cravings, and is pioneering a new field along the way.
- Speaking of Psychology: Women and smoking
In this podcast, expert Sherry McKee, PhD, explores why women have a harder time quitting smoking than men.
News
- 75,000 Americans at risk of dying from overdose or suicide due to coronavirus despair
May 8, 2020, CNN
- Why you might be drinking too much during lockdown
May 10, 2020, BBC News
- Looking for ways to protect against pandemic PTSD
June 2, 2020, San Francisco Chronicle
- Pandemic unleashes a spike in overdose deaths
June 29, 2020, Politico
- The power of reframing a mental health diagnosis
August 6, 2020, Psychology Today
Related APA Publications
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