Problem Gambling Pioneer: Alex Blaszczynski
How did "an unemployed, long-haired, bearded university student" grow up to become a clinical researcher honored for his outstanding work with the 2004 NCRG Senior Investigator Award? Dedication, a little luck, and a ripe sense of humor.
Alex Blaszczynski earned his undergraduate degree with majors in both economics and psychology but planned to enter the field of industrial relations. Although he applied to several jobs around the time he got married and entered graduate school for industrial relations, the only call-back he received was from Prince Henry Hospital for a psychological position. Blaszczynski, newly married and hoping for an economics career anyway, opted to go on his honeymoon instead of the interview and gallivanted along Australian beaches with his new wife. When they returned, luckily for him, the hospital still expressed interest in interviewing him, and he landed the job.
Although Blaszczynski got the opportunity to work under psychiatrist Neil McConaghy, this first position was less than glamorous. He became a research assistant studying compulsive sexual disorders by showing afflicted men nude photos and measuring their reactions. The biggest challenge, he admits, was to "convince my wife that displaying pornographic pictures to males with their penis inserted into a polygraph transducer was a legitimate scientific endeavor." Neither were her parents thrilled with their new son-in-law's line of work. But Blaszczynski knew the three-year program would get him through school with a little money, and then he could move on to something he could discuss over dinner with family.
However, at the end of this term, Blaszczynski had become fascinated by compulsive behaviors and was offered a full-time psychologist position. He realized his interest in this field supplanted his interest in economics, so he dropped his commerce course in favor of one in psychology. Beginning in 1977, Blaszczynski worked with McConaghy and Clive Allcock to apply treatments to compulsions not related to biology or external substances, and pathological gambling seemed to fit well into their research. The more involved they became in their work, the more Blaszczynski realized that compulsive gambling was a "major but hidden problem" and "much neglected by mental health professionals." When he then chose to earn his doctorate degree, this field became the obvious choice.
During a long flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, Blaszczynski scribbled on a napkin the framework for his pathways model of pathological gambling. He considers this way of explaining different research findings his greatest accomplishment and indeed it is used and well received in many areas. As to his greatest honor, he cites the NCRG award for two reasons: "the recognition accorded to my work by highly esteemed peers; and the fact that both my sons feel proud of their father and his achievements." He remains close to his sons and contends that the most rewarding feature of his career is that it affords him the opportunity to travel the United States, where his younger son plays college basketball in Louisiana. "My family takes precedence over my career," he adds.
In the course of this distinguished career, Blaszczynski has published more than 100 articles, papers and studies and also has founded several organizations, including the Australian National Council for Problem Gambling. His work has proved invaluable to furthering the understanding and treatment of pathological gambling and other compulsive behaviors. And all this from a shaggy-haired economics student who skipped a job interview to tour beaches with his new wife.
