Editing Problem gambling (section)

===Psychology===
Several psychological mechanisms are thought to be implicated in the development and maintenance of problem gambling.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Gobet |editor-first1=Fernand |editor-last2=Schiller |editor-first2=Marvin |year=2014 |title=Problem gambling: Cognition, prevention and treatment |location= London |publisher= Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=9781137272416}}</ref> First, reward processing seems to be less sensitive with problem gamblers.{{clarify|date=November 2022}} Second, some individuals use problem gambling as an escape from the problems in their lives (an example of [[negative reinforcement]]). Third, personality factors such as [[narcissism]], risk-seeking, sensation-seeking, and impulsivity play a role. Fourth, problem gamblers have several cognitive biases, including the [[illusion of control]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hudgens-Haney|first1=Matthew E|last2=Hamm|first2=Jordan P|last3=Goodie|first3=Adam S|last4=Krusemark|first4=Elizabeth A|last5=McDowell|first5=Jennifer E|last6=Clementz|first6=Brett A|title=Neural Correlates of Perceived Control and Risky Decision Making in Pathological Gamblers|journal=Biological Psychology|date=2013|volume=92|issue=2|pages=365–372|doi=10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.11.015|pmid=23201037|s2cid=41277445}}</ref> unrealistic optimism, overconfidence and the [[gambler's fallacy]] (the incorrect belief that a series of random events tends to self-correct so that the absolute frequencies of each of various outcomes balance each other out). Fifth, problem gamblers represent a chronic state of a behavioral spin process, a gambling spin, as described by the criminal spin theory.{{clarify|date=November 2022}}<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Bensimon |first1= M. |last2= Baruch |first2= A. |last3= Ronel |first3= N. |year= 2013 |title= The experience of gambling in an illegal casino: The gambling spin process |journal= European Journal of Criminology |volume= 10 |issue= 1 |pages= 3–21 |doi=10.1177/1477370812455124|s2cid= 143862937 }}</ref>

Spain's gambling watchdog has updated its 2019–2020 Responsible Gaming Program, classifying problem gambling as a mental disorder.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==== Similarities to other disorders ====
Pathological gambling is similar to many other impulse-control disorders such as [[kleptomania]].<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.austgamingcouncil.org.au/images/pdf/eLibrary/631.pdf |title=What do We Know About Gambling and Problem Gambling in New Zealand? |last=Abbott |first=Max |date=June 2001 |publisher=The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs |page=28 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321001832/http://www.austgamingcouncil.org.au/images/pdf/eLibrary/631.pdf |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> According to evidence from both community- and clinic-based studies, individuals who are pathological gamblers are highly likely to exhibit other psychiatric problems concurrently, including [[substance use disorder]]s, [[mood disorder|mood]] and [[anxiety disorder]]s, or [[personality disorder]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Black |first1=Donald |last2=Shaw |first2=Martha |date=October 2008 |title=Psychiatric Comorbidity Associated With Pathological Gambling |url=https://pro.psychcentral.com/psychiatric-comorbidity-associated-with-pathological-gambling/ |journal=Psychiatric Times |volume=25 |issue=12}}</ref>
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There is a partial overlap in diagnostic criteria between problem gambling and substance use disorders; pathological gamblers are also likely to have a substance use disorder. The "telescoping phenomenon" reflects the rapid development from initial to problematic behavior in women compared with men. This phenomenon was initially described for alcoholism, but it has also been applied to pathological gambling. Also, biological data support a relationship between pathological gambling and substance use disorder.<ref name="grant2006">{{cite journal |last1=Grant |first1=Jon E. |last2=Kim |first2=Suck Won |date=2006-09-01 |title=Medication Management of Pathological Gambling |journal=Minnesota Medicine |volume=89 |issue=9 |pages=44–48 |issn=0026-556X |pmc=1857322 |pmid=17024925}}</ref> A comprehensive UK Gambling Commission study from 2018 has also hinted at the link between gambling addiction and a reduction in physical activity, poor diet, and overall well-being. The study links problem gambling to a myriad of issues affecting relationships, and social stability.

==== Evolutionary psychology ====
Some researchers propose that human gambling behaviour reflects evolved tendencies toward risk-taking that historically conferred adaptive benefits.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hunt |first1=Adam |last2=Merola |first2=Giuseppe Pierpaolo |last3=Carpenter |first3=Tom |last4=Jaeggi |first4=Adrian V. |date=2024-04-01 |title=Evolutionary perspectives on substance and behavioural addictions: Distinct and shared pathways to understanding, prediction and prevention |journal=Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews |volume=159 |pages=105603 |doi=10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105603 |issn=0149-7634|doi-access=free |pmid=38402919 }}</ref> For example, gambling can be understood as a form of “risky reward-seeking,” where individuals overestimate potential gains—an inclination that modern gambling industries exploit.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anselme |first=Patrick |date=November 2013 |title=Dopamine, motivation, and the evolutionary significance of gambling-like behaviour |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0166432813004385 |journal=Behavioural Brain Research |language=en |volume=256 |pages=1–4 |doi=10.1016/j.bbr.2013.07.039|pmid=23896052 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> From this view, men tend to gamble more and engage in higher-stakes bets because male reproductive success is often linked to risk-based competition, paralleling other risky activities like big-game hunting or physical aggression. Younger adults may also be more prone to gambling due to the evolutionary advantage of status-seeking during peak reproductive years.

Other [[Evolutionary psychiatry|evolutionary accounts]] highlight the role of reward uncertainty. Researchers suggest that unpredictability itself motivates animals (including humans) to persevere in reward-seeking despite repeated failures, which can foster persistent gambling behaviour. [[Life history theory|Life History Theory]] further explains why some individuals are more vulnerable to problem gambling, proposing that those with a “fast” strategy (marked by impulsiveness and short-term planning) may be especially drawn to high-risk, high-reward scenarios.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Del Giudice |first=Marco |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/1052 |title=Evolutionary Psychopathology |date=July 2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-024684-6 |volume=1 |language=en |doi=10.1093/med-psych/9780190246846.001.0001}}</ref> In this framework, personality traits favoring present-oriented decision-making increase susceptibility to gambling addiction, mirroring risk-taking behaviors seen in other species.