A psychodynamic examination of the relationship between individuals' gambling behaviors and their personality organizations and defense mechanisms

Gambling behavior is becoming an increasingly widespread problem worldwide. Although studies on individuals' gambling behavior are increasing in the literature, studies conducted from a psychodynamic perspective are quite limited in our country. In this study, individuals who exhibit gambling behavior were examined in terms of the sub-dimensions of their personality organizations, and the defense mechanisms they used were identified. Additionally, by comparing them with individuals who have no gambling experience, it was investigated whether significant differences emerged based on certain variables. The study was conducted with individuals aged 18-65 using a non-random sampling method and a correlational survey model. A total of 395 people participated in the study, including 229 men and 166 women. To collect data, participants were administered a Demographic Information Form, the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the Inventory of Personality Organization, and the Defense Style Questionnaire. SPSS version 26.0 was used for data analysis. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that the sub-dimensions of personality organizations in individuals who exhibited gambling behavior differed significantly and positively with primitive defenses, identity diffusion, and reality testing. Regarding defense mechanisms, it was found that individuals who exhibited gambling behavior significantly differed positively with primitive defenses and did not significantly differ with neurotic and mature defenses. It was determined that individuals with gambling experience used defense mechanisms such as projection, passive aggression, acting out, isolation, devaluation, autistic fantasy, denial, dissociation, splitting, rationalization, and idealization.