Class Description
This presentation will take a historical look at the progression of gambling disorder in the action gambler and the escape gambler. Gender role theory purports that women are more caretaking and emotionally available than men, and that women who gamble prefer games of chance or luck rather than games of skill. This presentation discusses the ambivalence that cultural expectations and gender role theory present for women who may intrinsically prefer action gambling to escape gambling. The presentation outlines treatment differences for men and women, as well as ways in which programming and therapy may differ.
Learning Objectives
- Define “action” gambling and name three characteristics of an action gambler
- Define “escape” gambling and name three characteristics of an escape gambler
- Discuss three reasons why females gamble
- Identify five ways that treatment may differ for women and men
Educational Goals
- Understand the differences in action and escape gamblers and gender role expectations for males and females
- Describe the trajectory of a female gambler preparing for the “action” stage of recovery
- Understand the complexities that females with gambling disorder experience in treatment
- Be familiar with underlying issues that might sabotage a woman’s recovery from a gambling disorder if not addressed in the therapeutic setting
Outline
- Introduction (5 min.)
- Action & Escape gamblers, trajectories, and characteristics (15 min.)
- A profile of CA Helpline female callers (5 min.)
- Motives and issues of female gamblers (5 min.)
- Joanne’s story and stages of progression of GD for females (15 min.)
- GD and co-occurring disorders (5 min.)
- Contents of Programming/therapy for women (10 min.)