Game addiction - A contemporary issue
"You're a game junky". That, and other expressions are what I've been hearing for over two decades, as videogames became popular over other kinds of entertainments. Sometimes, in an admiring tone (like when it comes from another "junky"), other times, in a concerned tone (yes, grandma... whatever).
"Addicted" to videogames, is a diagnostic many delivered for several years, with no real science backing up that fact:
By many people that lacks of any doctorate able to dispense it.
The topic, as it always happens whenever we explore the human mind, is way more complex and has several variables that infer in the final result. Yet if us, gamers, tend to take the topic lightly... Then, we've a problem!
How many parents or tutors were concerned over a diagnostic given by a random opinionlogist that had no frikkin' idea of what he was talking about?
QuakeCon - Source in Image
What are we talking about when we say "addiction"?
It is complicated, to the point that if you start reading papers about the topic you'll notice that there's not a clear consensus by experts at many points in it.
Some focus that videogame addiction should be treated just like any other "offline" addiction. While others claim that the addiction is closer to a subspecies of "internet addiction".
3% of the online gamers can be really considered "addicted".
Some studies claim more, some... even less! Whom is right? Whom is wrong? Who knows? The lack of concurrency in the samples points out only one thing: It is a highly subjective sampling. Where for some 3 hours a day of gaming is "too much",
for others it is "ok" (Consider that non-gamers can spend HOURS watching soap-operas and reality shows in front of the dumbbox TV.
As a matter of fact, "hours played" is just one of the variables measured by specialists to deliver a diagnostic, There's six, to be precise:
• Prominence (This is, as a game gains priority against other things in life).
• Mood change (Strong emotions during the gaming sessions).
• Tolerance (The amount of gaming required by a subject to feel that he has "player enough").
• Reclusive symptoms (Discomfort that can manifest in physical symptoms as an "abstinence from playing" is experienced).
• Conflict (With people that surrounds the player, or other life activities; because of the game).
• Relapse (The repetition of previously experienced patterns after a period of control and stability in relation to the gamer behavior).
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Playing for many hours is not a synonymous of addiction.
It is clear that is more complex than what a generic grandmother may diagnose. Yes, there's a relation between gamed time and addiction, but it is a consequence of several other factors. There's a broad spectrum of motivations that lay the foundations of this problem.
The difference between a healthy enthusiasm and an addiction is that the first one gives something it return to life instead of taking away from it."
As you may know, today, being a professional gamer is a more than well paid profession (We can even throw into that category all those users that upload gameplay videos into several online platforms for revenue). Yes, they do spend a lot of time playing, they do enjoy it: But they add something to their lives.
For them, it is more than mere entertainment, it is how they put bread in the table.
The main difference that one can measure is when the gaming behavior affect the life of the subject and his/her relatives in a negative way. Reaching the point where interpersonal and professional links are affected by "that 200% exp event".
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Stimuli, rewards and self-control.
Online gaming, independently of the chosen genre, has a much higher level of stimulus than the average offline gaming, this has a "because". Foremost, there's the social aspects that add up to the challenge and gratification of victory, being better than others at something is simply irresistible!
This objective is the fuel for the engine online games represent: competition.
Wow, solid post, and a good warning. I have some friends who have gone heavily, heavily down this road - particularly with MMOs. Literally seen it end relationships...
It's not only the competitive element that gets people going - the social side of things, plus the pure escapism are very powerful draws to these online worlds.
A former housemate of mine would get home and play for about 6 or 7 hours before going to bed around 1 or 2am, go to work on only 4 hours sleep, then on Fridays he'd be online from the moment he could right through until 2am on the Sunday again, only the shortest of eating, sleeping and "bio-breaks" seeing him away from the PC.
He was late for a New Years' Eve party with his girlfriend because of MMOs, and that relationship came to an end not long after.
The sad tale does have a happier ending, though, as he met his now wife and mother of his children while playing... I think it was Star Wars: The Old Republic... and they have a much more balanced and 'normal' lifestyle now, making time for MMOs, rather than making time for each other.
A great cautionary tale, @renzoarg - I hope this makes it into trending as a lot of people could do well to learn how easily one can get sucked in!
@badastroza this is a wonderful, well thought out comment! I gave you a little boost in hopes you get more recognition. :)
Well thank you very much! Appreciate that.
Great article! Is there such thing as a good addiction? Maybe that is just called a hobby. I think the moment something you do weather it's playing video games, drinking, gambling, or anything else to be considered addictive, whenever it begins to be more important in your life than simple logic then you have a potentially harmful addiction. When you start weighing the pros and cons and your priorities start to be impacted then you have something to worry about.
My main issue with video games and the stigma of being called a video game addict is simply this. When is the last time you heard someone being called a basketball or baseball addict with a negative connotation? Are kids who play little League baseball looked down upon because they play baseball on the weekends and play catch in their backyard after school? Nope. Why? Because people understand what that leads to. Team sports build character, teach good values, give kids something to strive for, potentially can lead to and education, and possibly a future in sports. Well so can video games now. Generally people don't understand that yet. They don't know that there are college scholarships for gaming now and professional leagues. It is new i get it. I think as esports in America grows and shows its potential the term "video game addiction" will fade.
I read somewhere a few years ago, thus I cannot cite source, that videogames are for millenials the immediate answer to that sense of achievement we lack in real life. They give you that feeling you can accomplish something by just putting effort and time (like in real life but ejem, easier). This feeling can become addictive for some people and that is why they become "adicted", it is not the game per se but the sense of achievement they get online rather than in real life, but it is not only online, ever wondered why Xbox unleashed "achievements" on almost anything the player did in game? Like, "Congratulations, you just unlocked the achievement: Jumping 15 times".
I think that study is wording your article here, Im glad to see other people think the same.
I played skyrim when it got released and damn, you did feel like a true dragon slayer after a couple of tens of hours playing.
I've read about 20 papers on the topic before building the article itself, so...
Either directly or indirectly I believe that study you mention is one of the sources.
Yeah probably hehe. Ever got to finish reading Tuff? Nos estamos leyendo amigo saludos.
No, lol, I've it bookmarked but not finding time to do it.
I'll do it once I'm at the hospital getting ready for my surgery.
Damn, were you able to beat the Argentinian system and they are finally operating you? When is it? Best of luck my friend and sure, read it so we can continue to discuss books some other time hehehe. Sorry for late reply, Honduras is killing me hehe
This post received a 1.8% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @renzoarg! For more information, click here!
Great post! I definitely agree that game addiction exists, but I do feel people jump to conclusions too fast when someone is an avid gamer. I've said this many times, exactly like you stated aswell: People watch tv all evening long and they are fine, but when someone plays games all evening, they are 'addicted'. That just annoys me, because the only reasons people assume that about gaming is because it is less socially accepted than watching television. That, while gaming can actually do more for you and improve certain skills. Playing online, you might even be playing with friends all evening. It all depends on how easy you can let go and get out and do other stuff, besides gaming.
Yep, exactly. And I experienced the same thing growing up. I would play long hours because it was the only thing I really considered as fun. And my mom just kept telling me I was addicted. She was always talking on the phone, but I didn't consider her addicted to her phone. I didn't mention that she was always on her phone because it wouldn't help my case lol.
Haha I imagine it wouldn't!
Lots of effort you have put in. Nice post. Up. What might have to consider is the difference between competitive games and the rest of the world. Cheers
If there is a lot of danger in the addiction to video games but I think this can be controlled, I find interesting all the points you touched on the subject, I give you my upvote for the research.
This post has received a 2.43 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @renzoarg.
I'm a game junkie and proud!