Addiction to video games


Addiction to video games

Video Game Video Game Addiction Symptoms, Causes and Effects Although it is not yet recognized by the American Medical Association as a diagnosable disorder, video game addiction is a very real problem for many people.

According to the University of New Mexico, recent studies suggest that 6 to 15 percent of all gamers exhibit signs that could be characterized as addiction. Though this disorder can have significant consequences to those suffering from it, its signs and symptoms can sometimes be very difficult to recognize.

There are two major types of video games and therefore two major types of video game addictions. Standard video games are generally designed to be played by a single player and involve a clear goal or mission, such as rescuing a princess.

The addiction in these games is often related to completing that mission or beating a high score or preset standard. The other type of video game addiction is associated with online multiplayer games. These games are played online with other people and are especially addictive because they generally have no ending.

Gamers with this type of addiction enjoy creating and temporarily becoming an online character. They often build relationships with other online players as an escape from reality.

What Causes an Addiction to Video Games? Many different causes factor into video game addiction. One of the main reasons Addiction to video games video games can become so addictive, however, is they are designed to be that way. Video game designers, like anyone else trying to make a profit, are always looking for ways to get more people playing their games.

They accomplish this by making a game just challenging enough to keep you coming back for more but not so hard that the player eventually gives up. In other words, success for a gamer often feels just out of reach. In this respect, video game addiction is very similar to another more widely recognized disorder: As with any other addiction, video game addiction has warning signs.

It is important to know how to recognize these signs if you or someone you care about is an avid gamer. According to the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, these symptoms can be both emotional and physical.

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Emotional Symptoms of Video Game Addiction Some of the emotional signs or symptoms of video game addiction include: Fatigue Migraines due to intense concentration or eye strain Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by the overuse of a controller or computer mouse Poor personal hygiene Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Video Game Addiction Like any other compulsive disorder, video game addiction can have severe negative consequences.

Though most of the symptoms listed above have short-term effects, they can lead to more severe long-term repercussions if not addressed properly. For example, someone addicted to video games will often avoid sleeping or eating proper meals in order to continue gaming.


Similarly, those who isolate themselves from others in order to play video games may miss out on family events, outings with friends, or other events in the short-term. If this continues to be a pattern for a long period of time, however, addicts might find themselves without any friends at all.

Other long-term effects of video game addiction to consider are the financial, academic and occupational consequences involved. Video games and video game equipment can be very expensive, especially when factoring in recurring costs such as the high-speed Internet connection required for online multiplayer games.


Addiction to video games

The most effective self-assessment that can be done is to examine the above list of symptoms associated with video game addiction. If you find that you or someone you care about exhibits any of these warnings signs, it may be a good time to cut back on the amount of time spent gaming.

If you are unsure whether these symptoms apply to you, we can help.Next to claims about violence, claims about addiction have accounted for most of the bad press that video games have received.

The flawed analogy between gambling addiction and "video game addiction". How is video game addiction identified and how prevalent is it? The fear spread by articles such as Kardaris’s is that young people who play video games are likely to become "addicted” to them.

Popular Beliefs About Video Games By Sherry Rauh From the WebMD Archives At an addiction treatment center in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, teenagers and young adults begin detox by admitting they are powerless over their addiction. They are going cold turkey to break their dependence on video games.

A teenager plays a video game at a trade-show booth during the "Intel Friday Night Game" organized by the Electronic Sports League at Tonhalle on November 13, , in Munich.

So why is it that you can have a video game addiction, but not a book addiction? My problem with the notion of a video game addiction is the inconsistency. Spend 12 hours playing games? Video game addiction (VGA) has been suggested by some in the medical community as a distinct behavioral addiction characterized by excessive or compulsive use of computer games or video games that interferes with a person's everyday life.

Video Game Addiction No Fun. Compulsive video gaming is a modern-day psychological disorder that experts tell WebMD is becoming more and more popular.

Signs and Symptoms of Video Game Addiction - Causes and Effects