Gamblers tell their stories: Life patterns of gambling

3.1.2. Site selection 23
3.1.3. Preparation for fieldwork 23
3.1.4. Recruitment and Interviews 25
3.3. Completed Interviews 28
3.4. Analysis and Presentation of Qualitative Research 32
4. Early Family Influences and Experiences 34
4.1. Lack of Family Cohesion and Support 35
4.1.1. Lack of encouragement and negativity 35
4.1.2. Lack of communication and arguments in the family 36
4.1.3. Lack of nurturing and emotionally distant parents 37
4.1.4. Not fitting in 38
4.2. Child Abuse 39
4.3. Parents’ attitudes to gambling in early family 41
4.3.1. Gambling: a family event at home 42
4.3.2. Growing up on the race track 44
4.3.3. Early exposure to several forms of gambling 45
4.3.4. Problem gambling and other addictions in the family 47
5. Gambling Motivations 50
5.1. Gambling as Psychological Escape 51
5.1.1. Escaping emotional pain, life stresses and problems 51
5.1.2. A gendered approach to escape 53
5.2. The Thrill and Hope of Winning 54
5.2.1. The thrill of winning 55
5.2.2. Hoping to win money to feel in control 56
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