Are Video Games Addictive?

Areflideo ames ADDICTIVE? Today, the gaming industry is worth $66 billion globally and shows no signs of slowing. Along with that meteoric rise in popularity comes a potential for misuse; at the end of the day, what do we really know about the addictive nature of video games? WHO ARE THE WORLD'S GAMERS? Average gender of a video game player: Average age of the most frequent video game purchaser: vs 35 YRS V 45% Female 55% Male According to American Medical Association's Council on Science and Public Health: 90% 15% of adolescents play video games. of the gaming youth may have symptoms of video game addiction. THE ORIGINS OF ADDICTION: In 1983, the phrase "computer widow" was coined. It refers to those who have a relationship with a computer user in which more attention Support groups now exist, including On-Line Gamers Anonymous, which help couples address and overcome computer and video game addictions. is paid to the computer than to the partner. However, it has been inçluded in recent Video game addiction is not yet recognized as a mental disorder. editions of the DSM-IV to be considered for future study. CAN VIDEO GAMES QUALIFY AS AN ADDICTION? Video games have been According to the self-determination theory (SDT), video games satisfy the player's needs for: found to elevate levels of dopamine. A chemical responsible for reward and pleasure responses. • Autonomy • Competence • Social interaction Like drugs, video games can become a preoccupation, particularly for younger addicts; their emotional development is stunted because they don't have A 2009 study of gamers found that 41% of participants played games primarily to "escape from the real world." time for social interaction. 41% WHICH GAMES ARE MOST ADDICTIVE? 2010 research by Thomas and Martin suggests that video games with a strong social component (MMORPGS) are more addictive than single-player games. Games that influence character progression (leveling up) are more addictive than games with "static" main characters. פ_Eורםם RISK FACTORS FOR VIDEO GAME ADDICTION Lack of distinction Lack of parental Poor attention or academic or accomplishment in real life performance support Poor behavior Parental separation or divorce History of impulsive behavior at school THE PROGRESSION OF ADDICTION IN CHILDREN The Problem A German study of 1,217 fourth graders indicated that 1.3% of them met the current criteria for The fourth graders averaged 56 minutes of play time per day; this rose to 207 minutes by ninth grade. video game addiction, and an additional 2.65% were "at risk." In other words, children don't jus "grow out of it." Fourth graders who exhibited video game dependency were more likely to struggle with addiction in the next five years The Treatment The available data suggests that Limiting play time or confiscating video game consoles has been shown to be ineffective. video game dependency is a result of underlying social problems; addressing these issues is the key to combating video game addiction. THE EFFECTS OF VIDEO GAME ADDICTION: Physical: Emotional/Social: Difficulty forming/maintaining relationships Persistent migraines Difficulty sleeping Heightened aggression Child neglect Carpal tunnel syndrome Lack of interpersonal/ communication skills Poor nutrition Worsening academic/ professional performance Poor personal hygiene EXTREME CASES 2005 2005 A gamer in Shanghai was stabbed to death after selling a friend's virtual sword on eBay for the equivalent of $738. The owner of the sword was A South Korean gamer died after a 50-hour gaming marathon. RIP RIF sentenced to life in prison. 2009 A 17-year-old shot both his parents after they confiscated his copy of Halo 3. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS Recent research has suggested that certain video games may actually be beneficial - if played in moderation. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development found that playing Super Mario 64 for 30 minutes every day over two months increased the size of participants' right hippocampus, cerebellum, and right prefrontal cortex. These parts of the brain are responsible for memory formation, muscle control, and strategic planning. ClarityWay Find your path to recovery Entertainment Software Association Frontiers in Psychology National Institute on Drug Abuse Nature.com: Molecular Psychiatry Psychology Today | WebMD