Pathological Gambling in the Chinese Community, an Anthropological Viewpoint

Pathological gambling has been identified as a major issue in the Montreal Chinese community. From different sources, we can confirm the mismatch between prevention & treatment services for cultural minorities in an increasingly multicultural world. With an anthropological approach, the identification of cultural factors typical of the Chinese community could permit greater efficiency in identification, prevention, & treatment of pathological gambling. This article presents the Occidental theoretical vision of pathological gambling, followed by the Chinese perception of the same phenomenon. The notions of fatality, destiny, & chance in Chinese thinking are presented as constituting risk factors for excessive gambling. A brief look at a few Montreal Chinese community social norms contributes to assessing the differences inherent in the Chinese experience of pathological gambling. 54 References. Adapted from the source document.