@simondymond
Professor of Psychology & Behaviour Analysis; Swansea to Reykjavik via Cork, like; gambling, avoidance, anxiety research; Munster/Ireland rugby, long suffering Everton FC fan; running nut; plant-based goodness.
NHS gambling helpline and specialist treatment service to be launched in Wales www.gov.wales/gambling-hel... This is long-called-for, much needed service. The first such NHS service outside of England.
But what's the mechanism?
Screenshot of a preprint titled “Digital Behaviourism: A functional approach to behaviour in digital environments”
Our preprint has evolved!
v2 of “Digital Behaviourism” is out now with a new title, new co-authors, and a deeper dive into the behavioural concepts that shape our online lives.
It’s time to move beyond “screen time” and focus on function of online behaviours.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Skinner probably doesn't need the citations anymore(!), but it's so good to see radical behavioural principles applied to seemingly complex domains, with workable/testable predictions and further work and support issues outlined.
Great to see functional analysis applied to this area.
The Links Between Gambling Harm and Suicide in Routinely Collected Data: The BJPsych Open has published a blog based on our recent data linkage study of gambling related suicide. Check it out here - www.cambridge.org/core/blog/20...
Behavioural
Excellent chapter-by-chapter discussion of Skinner’s oft-dismissed, but seldom read, Verbal Behavior
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/c...
RIP Brigitte Bardot, an amazing actor, singer, and animal rights activist. youtu.be/1SE_K7SSDKg?...
Merry Xmas from all those harmed by gambling. The sums involved are eye-watering, and this is isn’t even the largest payout. Staggering.
The luck of the Welsh
Neuroscience Needs Behavioral “Wind Tunnels” for Real-Life Translation www.jneurosci.org/content/45/4...
Bloody love the Mods!
Kudos to Swansea Council for installing a new litter bin (much needed, I might add) in the middle of the path on the first turn of the popular Parkrun course. Are they seeking to reduce physical activity and increase accidents?!
📢 The call for abstracts is open for the 2026 CAGR conference!
The conference is hosted by @ceacg.bsky.social, University of Helsinki on 28-29 May.
Deadline for submissions is January 15, 2026.
Find more information on our website: cagrconference.org/call-for-pap...
The removal of the two-child benefit cap will save almost 1 million children from poverty and cost about £3billion. Gambling companies made £12.6billion in profits last year. Which would you rather see pay more tax?
GGY rises to £12.6 billion, partly driven by 15% increase from online gambling www.theguardian.com/society/2025... The levy on these profits for research, prevention and treatment is worth acknowledging. But still, the harms caused but this volume of gambling losses is a public health emergency.
GSGB to continue for a further four years www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article... Great news, and an even better team behind it.
Surprised Big Bird didn’t get authorship.
Ireland winning goal and end of match with Irish commentary
Great article on the spread and impact of gambling in the USA in @psychologytoday.com. Thanks for inviting me to contribute.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/...
@uofgsps.bsky.social @uofgussp.bsky.social
@psychologytoday.com
Super interesting work using health admin records by @simondymond.bsky.social and colleagues, looking at gambling-related suicide - especially good on use of services and opportunities for interventions
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/researc...
All good thanks, grateful I (still) have a job! How’s you? Still running? I’ve become addicted to running.
Ah the ravages of time! I recall him talking about FRN and his wife, Bettina, explaining bilateral redundancy gain to a behaviourist!
That is sad. I met Friedmann when he was the CBU and his wife worked with me at ARU. Lovely man, so perceptive and smart. RIP
Latest output, 'Adapting in times of crisis: how social media marketing of gambling changed in response to major shifts in the gambling landscape', led by Scott Houghton and featuring @shwardle.bsky.social and fantastic colleagues. Read it here: eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
My GREAT Centre colleague, Jamie Torrance, has written this piece about the worrying rise in influencer-led gambling on livestream platforms theconversation.com/why-people-a...
The team at the GREAT Centre continue to have a productive year. Check out our latest publications, most of which are open-access, here: greatcentre.org/outputs
Was great to share findings from the CONGAM project on contingency management for gambling harm at the #EABCT conference in Glasgow with @fieldmatt.bsky.social @carolagetty.bsky.social @clinpsych.bsky.social and to compete with Comic Con for attendees! 🦸♂️
