Classmate, let's talk: Teenage gambling

Author: (USA) Sanders
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: After reading the "Let's Chat" series for middle school students, I had many reflections. As early as 1983, I published "Psychology of Middle School Students" with Beijing Publishing House. The reason I wrote this book is not only because I am a psychologist, but more importantly, I was a middle school teacher for 13 years (from 1965 to 1978). I love middle school students and am familiar with them. The middle school stage, during puberty or adolescence, is one of the golden stages of life. Youth is beautiful, and the adolescent period is also a precious and diverse time of life. Adolescents are most characterized by vitality, brilliance, idealism, and enthusiasm. They are unleashing their intelligence and talents, and both their bodies and minds are rapidly developing. Adolescence is a transitional period, with its primary feature being transition—the shift from childhood (immaturity) to adulthood (maturity). It is a semi-immature, semi-mature period, a time of complex and conflicting independence and dependence. Adolescents hope to be recognized and treated as "adults," as full members of society. Their thoughts are relatively simple, and they rarely hold conservative views; they dare to think, speak, and act. However, in their minds, what constitutes a correct view of happiness, friendship, heroism, freedom, and values remains a mystery. Their self-esteem and confidence are growing, and they are very sensitive to others' evaluations, tending to be competitive and aggressive. Yet, their thinking is also one-sided, prone to extremism and instability. Their higher emotions, such as moral sense, rationality, and aesthetic sense, are gradually maturing. They are passionate and value emotions, but they also have great passivity, with clear emotional extremes, where passion often plays a significant role. Their willpower is developing, but their perseverance often lacks strength when overcoming difficulties. They often confuse determination with stubbornness, bravery with recklessness. They are energetic, and their abilities are improving and becoming apparent, but their personalities have not yet been fully formed, making it sometimes difficult to find the right path for their activities. In short, adolescents are at a crossroads in life, which is why the international psychology community has bestowed upon them various "crowns": "psychological weaning period," "stormy period," "rebellious period," and "crisis period." All of this urgently requires education and cultivation, as well as coordination from schools, families, and society, so that adolescents can navigate this meaningful yet turbulent stage of life.
Activities like playing mahjong, poker, sports betting, welfare lotteries, shopping raffles, and internet gambling expose adults to gambling opportunities more and more, and adolescents are also affected to varying degrees.
- Do you, your friends, family, relatives, or classmates participate in such gambling activities?
- Have you ever watched such gambling activities?
- Do you enjoy the excitement and thrill of gambling?
The author provides a general explanation of gambling. Through the stories of several American middle school students like Dave, Andrea, Mike, and Sam, she analyzes the growing phenomenon of gambling among American adolescents and the reasons that lead them to gamble and continue to do so. Although the book focuses on the attitudes of American adolescents toward gambling, the fresh and authentic information it provides can also help us recognize that gambling is a risky form of entertainment. If adolescents develop a gambling habit or become addicted to it, they may bring serious problems and pain to themselves and their families. Therefore, strengthening autonomy and self-control is the prerequisite and key to deciding whether to participate in gambling and resisting its temptation. Of course, adolescents who already enjoy gambling can, with the care, help, and guidance of families, schools, and society, emerge from the shadow of gambling and embrace tomorrow with a new mindset.