Characterization of controlled gamblers and pathological gamblers using the social representation theory

Abstract Introduction In industrialized countries, gambling disorder tends to become a major issue. The use of the social representation theory provides clues for a better understanding of pathological gamblers. Objective This paper investigates the representation of risk in a gambling context among lay people (Study 1) and among controlled gamblers and probable pathological gamblers (Study 2). Method In the first study, 1106 people answered a free association task based on the target expression ‘risk in a gambling context’. In the second study, a small sample of gamblers, half of them being probable pathological gamblers (based on their score at the SOGS), participated in a semi-structured interview about risk in a gambling context. Interview guidelines were constructed based on the results obtained from Study 1. Results In Study 1, results indicate that the overall representation of risk in a gambling context differs from the one in a general context. The results are interpreted through the prospect theory and the decision-making dual-process model. Results from Study 2 show that, contrarily to those being probable pathological gamblers, controlled gamblers orient their discourse around the notion of pleasure and do not perceive gambling as a threat for their ego. Conclusion Controlled gamblers fear to lose money, while probable pathological gamblers fear to lose the game.