Introducing the Hero Complex and the Mythic Iconic Pathway of Problem Gambling

Nixon, Gary; Solowoniuk, Jason

Introducing the Hero Complex and the Mythic Iconic Pathway of Problem Gambling

dc.contributor.author	Nixon, Gary
dc.contributor.author	Solowoniuk, Jason
dc.date.accessioned	2009-01-09T23:04:31Z
dc.date.available	2009-01-09T23:04:31Z
dc.date.issued	2008
dc.description	Sherpa Romeo green journal. Permission to deposit author manuscript	en
dc.description.abstract	Early research into the motivations behind problem gambling reflected separate paradigms of thought splitting our understanding of the gambler into divergent categories. However, over the past 25 years, problem gambling is now best understood to arise from biological, environmental, social, and psychological processes, and is now encapsulated under the biopsychosocial model. While, the biopsychosocial model brings a great degree of understanding regarding the etiology and process becoming a problem gambler, it is clear that further research is needed to improve theoretical perspectives that identify causal trajectories that underlie gambling related problems amongst sub-groups of problem gamblers. One line of research that has gone understudied with respect to exploring such causal paths is the Mythic Iconic Pathway of problem gambling. Such a pathway conceptualizes gambling pathology as a life-world phenomenon that arises within an individual who filters perceptions of the self and world through a hero’s complex. Thus, this paper will outline the Mythic Iconic Pathway, including its phenomenological processes, and describe the key therapeutic insights and implications to consider when adopting such a novel approach toward understanding and treating the problem gambler. Keywords Problem gambling - Biopsychosocial - Mythic - Icon - Hero’s journey	en
dc.description.peer-review	Yes	en
dc.identifier.citation	Nixon, G., & Solowoniuk, J. (2009) Introducing the Hero Complex and the Mythic Iconic Pathway of Problem Gambling. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 7(1), 108-123. doi: 10.1007/s11469-008-9153-5	en
dc.identifier.issn	1557-1874 (Print)
dc.identifier.issn	1557-1882 (Online)
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10133/691
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.publisher	Springer	en
dc.publisher.doi	10.1007/s11469-008-9153-5
dc.publisher.faculty	School of Health Sciences	en
dc.publisher.institution	University of Lethbridge	en
dc.subject	Compulsive gambling	en
dc.subject	Archetype (Psychology)	en
dc.subject	Biopsychosocial
dc.subject	Mythic
dc.subject	Icon
dc.subject	Hero's journey
dc.title	Introducing the Hero Complex and the Mythic Iconic Pathway of Problem Gambling	en
dc.type	Article	en