A Psychologial Analysis of the Main Character in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s the Gambler

The novel “The Gambler” tells about a young teacher named Alexei Ivanovich who works for a Russian general who was once a wealthy man. This novel is an image of the writer's addiction to roulette gambling. Dostoevsky finished the writing of this novel in a very short time in order to settle his gambling debts. The analysis shows that the main character can be said as a pathological gambler. This is because there are at least five of 10 characteristics of a pathological gambler in his character. They are preoccupation, tolerance, escape, chasing (always trying to win back what is lost), loss of self-control, and bailout (relying on money from others).

Extreme Losers: On Excess and Profitless Expenditure in Male Gambler Practices

The essay looks at male gambling by investigating it as a form of resistance to the utilitarian values which lie at the base of the market logic. Here the excess is viewed as a central notion in opposition to that of utility. Far from minimising the negative impact of excessive gambling on society and individuals, this contribution attempts to go beyond an analysis based on the categories of pathology and expenditure only. Through excess, the pathological gambler unveils the symbolic and arbitrary ideology of capitalism which sees economic success as a sign of election or a choice whereby money is used not as an investment or to access to goods and services, but “wasted”.To address these issues, two complementary ethnographic methods are used: (1) a three-month ethnographic observation in 23 gambling locations in Milan’s metropolitan area; (2) 10 in-depth interviews with extreme male gamblers.The article attempts to answer the following research question: How does excess take place in male gambling practices? Risk factors for extreme gambling are analysed, with a particular focus on the relationship between gambling and masculinity. In the effort to go beyond an analysis of gambling based on the categories of pathology and expenditure only, gambling is conncetd to the notion of excess. Gambling locations as facilitators of excess are studied, and the life stories of pathological gamblers discussed. The paradoxical ambivalence of gambling practices, on the one side a form of domination of the subordinate classe, on the other an opportunity to resist through an anti-utilitarian act, are highlighted.

The Pathological Gambler and his Spouse: How do their Narratives Match?

This case study compares the narratives of a pathological gambler and his spouse concerning family, marital and individual matters. It does so through identifying each of the key players' narratives individually (analysis of self-report questionnaires) and interactively (couples therapy sessions analysis). The results show that the gambler has a rather more positive view of gambling-related issues than does his spouse, and this fact is most apparent when it comes to marital and family issues. The gambler's perspective is less positive when it comes to non-relationship issues (financial and professional issues). A few hypotheses are put forward to explain these results and these are summarized in three effects: denial, idealization/guilt relief, and disappointment/retaliation. Some implications for clinical practice are also identified, such as the need to set therapy objectives which are truly shared by both members of the couple, as well as guidelines for future research, such as studies focused on gender differences.

A monetary valuation of the quality of life loss associated with pathological gambling: an application using a health utility index

This study estimates the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) costs of gambling addiction. Pathological gamblers were recruited from treatment centers in Western Switzerland. The difference in HRQoL between pathological gamblers (n=52) and a sample drawn from the general population (n=93) was measured through a multi-item instrument, the SF-6D. We used a tobit regression to estimate the effect of pathological gambling on HRQoL, controlling for comorbidities and age. Finally, to obtain a monetary value of the HRQoL loss attributable to gambling addiction, we applied an existing value of a life year estimate. Results showed that pathological gambling is significantly associated with a decrease in the quality of life by 0.076 quality adjusted life year (QALY). The resulting cost per pathological gambler and per year was estimated at CHF 3,830. This study suggests that ignoring quality of life costs results in an underestimation of the social burden of gambling addiction.

Consequences of pathological gambling on the gambler and his spouse

The consequences of pathological gambling negatively impact many aspects of the life of both the gambler and his relatives. This exploratory study compared the gambler's perceptions of the consequences of gambling in his life and in the life of his spouse with the perceptions that his spouse had of the same consequences. Seven couples, each including a male pathological gambler, participated in the study. Members of each couple individually completed the questionnaire. The descriptive analyses showed that each member of the couple mentioned, in addition to the financial consequences, different consequences stemming from the gambling behaviour of the gambler. The analyses revealed that the spouse perceived the consequences she experienced, as well as those experienced by the gambler, as more severe than the gambler perceived them. This paper discusses how each member of a couple that includes a pathological gambler differs in their perception of harm related to gambling.