Poker Addiction

Research Paper # 103634

Psychology > Behaviorism

Poker Addiction

A discussion on whether gambling activities such as poker provoke addictive behavioural responses.

1,296 words () | 3 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how gambling activities, such as the card game poker, have become increasingly popular forms of entertainment over the years and how, once a round-the-table household activity for men, poker games now constitute major attractions in casinos. It looks at how many individuals have developed patterns of gambling behaviour characterized by addiction and loss of control and how this has occurred to the extent that gambling addiction groups are sprouting up all across the world. The paper also contends that gambling activities such as poker provoke addictive behavioural responses, which should be recognized as such by society as a whole.

Outline:
Introduction
An Addiction
Research on Poker: Gender Differences?
Conclusion: Cause for Action - An Increasing Problem

From the Paper:

"Poker is one of the most common forms of gambling, and one of the oldest. As a legalized form of gambling, many gambling addicts are poker addicts (or slot addicts, or horse betting addicts, etc). Pathological gambling is recognized as a disorder of impulse control in the DSM-IV, though it was first listed in the DSM III in 1980 (Black & Moyer, 1998, p. 1434). The DSM-IV criteria recognizes pathological gambling as a serious disorder whereby individuals: are preoccupied with gambling; need to gamble in increasing amounts of money; report repeated unsuccessful efforts to cut down or stop gambling; become restless and/or irritable when attempting to cut down on gambling; are tempted to return to gambling to "break even"; lie to conceal the extent of gambling; jeopardize their relationships with others owing to gambling; may lose their job owing to gambling; and rely on others to relieve their desperate financial situation caused by gambling (Petry & Armentano, p. 1022). "

Sample of Sources Used:

Black & Moyer (1998). Clinical Features and Psychiatric Comordity of Subject With Pathological Gambling Behaviour. Psychiatric Services, 49, 11: 1434-1439.
Petry, N. M & Armentano, M. S. W. (1999). Prevalence, Assessment, and Treatment of Pathological Gambling: A Review. Psychiatric Services, 1999, 50, 8: 1021-1027.
Potenza, M. N., Steinberg, M., McLaughlin, S. D., Wu, R., Rounsaville, B. J. and O'Malley, S. S. (2001). Gender-Related Differences in the Characteristics of Problem Gamblers Using a Gambling Helpline. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158: 1500-1505.