Abstract
This research study sought to interpret and strove toward understanding the lived experience of 13 pathological gambler from an archetypal–mythic perspective. Through a phenomenological hermeneutics inquiry, 11 clusters of themes were illuminated. These themes highlighted a three stage mythical journey that elucidated how gambling began as regular pastime, but ended in failure in regards to becoming extraordinary and financially secure. Thus, resulting in extreme gambling behaviors such as psychological distress, family disintegration, and self-effacement. Clinical implications from this inquiry suggest that understanding pathological gambling from a archetypal–mythical perspective not only encapsulates our current paradiagms of thought about gambling, but may offer a more a holistic approach to understanding the pathological gambler as it sets its theoretical tenets in a cultural, historical, and psychosocial world.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aasved, M. (2002). The psychodynamics and psychology of gambling: The gamblers mind volume one. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas Publishers, LTD.
Aasved, M. (2003). The biology of gambling. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas Publishers, LTD.
American Psychiatric Association (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text-revision. Washington, DC: Author.
Bleicher, J. (1980). Contemporary hermeneutics: Hermeneutics as method, philosophy and critique. Boston, MA: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Bufe, C. (1998). Alcoholics anonymous: Cult or cure (2nd ed.). Tucson, Arizona: See Sharp Press.
Campbell, J. (1970). The hero with a thousand faces (2nd ed). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Casey, E. S. (1976). A phenomenological study. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Cochrane, L. (1985). Position and the nature of personhood. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Cochrane, L. (1986). Portrait and story. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Custer, R., & Milt, H. (1985). When luck runs out: Help for compulsive gamblers and their families. New York, NY: Warner Books.
Findlay, J. M. (1986). People of chance: Gambling in American society from Jamestown to Las Vegas. New York: Oxford University Press.
Gadamer, H. G. (1967). Kleine Schriften I and II. In J. Bleicher (Ed.), Contemporary hermeneutics: hermeneutics as method, philosophy, and critique. Boston, MA: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Gadamer, H. G. (1975). Truth and method. New York, Pantheon: G. Barden & J. Cummings, Trans.
Griffiths, M. (1996). Pathological gambling: A review of the literature. Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing, 3(6), 347–353.
Hillman, J. (1983). Archetypal pyschology: A brief account. Dallas, TX: Spring.
Ibanez, A., Blanco, C., Castor, I. P., Piqueras, J. F., & Ruiz, J. S. (2003). Genetics of pathological gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 19(1), 11–22.
Judith, A. (1997). Eastern body western mind: Psychology and the chakra system as a path to the self. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.
Jung, C. G. (1959). The archetypes and the collective unconscious. CW 9.I. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
McCown, W. G., & Chamberlain, L. L. (2000). Best possible odds: Contemporary treatment strategies for gambling disorders. New York, NY: Wiley.
National Research Council (1999). Pathological gambling: A critical review. Washington, D.C. National Academy Press.
Osborne, J. (1990). Some basic existential phenomenological research methodology for counsellors. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 24(2), 79–91.
Pavalko, R. M. (2001). Problem gambling and its treatment: An introduction. Springfield, Illinois: Thomas.
Pearson, C. S. (1989). The hero within: Six archetypes we live by. New York, New York: Harper & Row.
Peele, S. (1995). Diseasing of America: How we allowed recovery zealots and the treatment industry to convince use we are out of control. New York: Lexington Books.
Rory, R. (1982). Consequences of pragmatism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Rosenthal, R. J., & Lesieur, H. R. (1992). Self-reported withdrawal symptoms and pathological gambling. American Journal on Addictions, 1(2), 150–154.
Shaffer, H. J., Hall, M. N., & Vander Bilt, J. (1997). Estimating the prevalence of disordered gambling behavior in the United States and Canada: A research synthesis. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 1369–1376.
Shaffer, H. J., Stein, S. A., Gambino, B., & Cummings, T. N. (1989). Compulsive gambling: Theory, research, and practice. Boston, MA: Lexington Books.
Singer, J. (1994). Boundaries of the soul: The practice of Jung’s psychology (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Anchor Books.
Van Manen, M. (1984). Practicing phenomenological writing. Journal of Phenomenology and Pedagogy, 2, 36–49.
Volberg, R. A. (1996). Gambling and problem gambling in New York: A 10-year replication survey, 1986 to 1996. Report to the New York Council on Problem Gambling. Roaring Spring, PA: Gemni Research.
Volberg, R. A. (2002). Gambling and problem gambling in Nevada. Report to the Nevada Department of Human Resources. Carson City, NV: Department of Human Resources.
Wachterhauser, B. R. (1986). (Ed.), Hermeneutics and modern philosophy. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Zinberg, N. E. (1977). Alcoholics Anonymous and the treatment and prevention of alcoholism. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, (1), 91–101.
Acknowledgment
We gratefully acknowledge the research grant support of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
*The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Correctional Service of Canada.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nixon, G., Solowoniuk, J. & McGowan, V. The Counterfeit Hero’s Journey of the Pathological Gambler: A Phenomenological Hermeneutics Investigation. Int J Ment Health Addiction 4, 217–232 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-006-9021-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-006-9021-0