Abstract
Problem gamblers are often bewildered by their ongoing behaviour. Furthermore, they make attributions about their gambling that do not allow for constructive change. Psychoeducation traditionally involves learning about gambling and probability (e.g. features of the electronic gaming machine (EGM) and independence of turns in probability). Learning about how the mind works is also helpful. Learning about intermittent reinforcement, about how the human mind uses heuristics, about illusions and about the role of dopamine can help the problem gambler understand and step back from hunches, intuitions and the presence of urges. Psychoeducation allows the problem gambler to develop an understanding of their gambling that does not involve attributions of character and by doing so creates opportunities for change. Vivid illustrations make concepts memorable, such as the Stroop test to illustrate automaticity of repeated actions or the Muller-Lyer illusion to illustrate paradoxical beliefs. The cunning self-management displayed by Ulysses in mythology can be an inspiration.
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O’Neill, K. (2017). Psychoeducation for Problem Gambling. In: Evidence-Based Treatments for Problem Gambling. SpringerBriefs in Psychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62485-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62485-3_2
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