According to a socio-constructionist perspective, pathological gamblers' “subjectivities” emerge out of social networks and networks of meaning-making, in which scientists, politicians, health services and common people take an active part. We are interested in showing how a legitimated view (sociocultural model) of problem gambling as a disease affects the way in which the members of Gamblers Anonymous (GA) self-groups understand and present their identity and talk about their problem and the help they have received. The work is based on a qualitative analysis of 35 in-depth, semi-structured open-ended interviews, 25 with gamblers attending Italian GA self-help groups, and 10 with gamblers’ relatives attending GamAnon family groups. The main themes arising from the interviews show how a dominant view of problem gambling as lifelong chronic illness opens the door to the reconciliation with oneself and one’s relatives. This work provides insights on the close relationship between acculturation to a pathological identity, moral reconciliation and "social belonging" through conforming to the GA group.
The social construction of the pathological gambler's identity and its relationship with social adaptation. Narratives from members of Italian Gambling Anonymous and Gam-Anon Family groups
Claudia Venuleo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
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2017-01-01
Abstract
According to a socio-constructionist perspective, pathological gamblers' “subjectivities” emerge out of social networks and networks of meaning-making, in which scientists, politicians, health services and common people take an active part. We are interested in showing how a legitimated view (sociocultural model) of problem gambling as a disease affects the way in which the members of Gamblers Anonymous (GA) self-groups understand and present their identity and talk about their problem and the help they have received. The work is based on a qualitative analysis of 35 in-depth, semi-structured open-ended interviews, 25 with gamblers attending Italian GA self-help groups, and 10 with gamblers’ relatives attending GamAnon family groups. The main themes arising from the interviews show how a dominant view of problem gambling as lifelong chronic illness opens the door to the reconciliation with oneself and one’s relatives. This work provides insights on the close relationship between acculturation to a pathological identity, moral reconciliation and "social belonging" through conforming to the GA group.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
