Video Game Addiction

Video Game AddictionHeather Titus

Video Game AddictionOver the last decade, the concept of internet addiction has grown in terms of its acceptance as a legitimate clinical disorder needing treatmentExcess video gaming is identified as a subtype of internet addictionVideo game addiction, or more broadlyvideo game overuse, is excessive orcompulsive use ofcomputer andvideo that interferes with daily life. Users play compulsively, isolating themselves from, or from other forms of,social contactand focusing almost entirely on in-game achievements rather than broader life events

Types of Video Game AddictionComputer gamesOnline gamesVideo games (single player or multiple in-person player games) on gaming consoles and handheld devices, including cell phonesMassive Multi-user Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs)(ex. World of Warcraft)

Statistics on Video Game AddictionMore than half of American adults play video gamesThe average elementary school child plays video games between 9 and 11 hours a week; teen boys play an average of 13 hours per weekAccording to the AMA, as many as 15% of children and adolescents may be addicted to video games (Tanner, 2007).The draw to video gamesThe addiction stems from the creation of virtual worldsMMORPGs allow the gamer to completely immerse themselves into a living, self-contained societyMMORPGs worlds continue to exist whether playing or notPlayers can decide every intricate detail of their character, experiment with their personality & try new identitiesCharacteristics of Video Game AddictsAddicts are typically grade school to adolescent males, although some addicts are college-aged or beyondHardcore players tend to be younger players who may suffer from emotional problems or low self worth or esteem (Yee, 2006).Signs of Video Game Addiction1. Preoccupation with gaming2. Lying or hiding gaming use3. Loss of Interest in Other Activities4. Social Withdrawal5. Defensiveness and Anger6. Psychological Withdrawal7. Using Gaming as an Escape8. Continued Use Despite ConsequencesSigns of Video Game Addiction, ContinuedGamers neglect sleep, proper diet, exercise, hobbies, and real human contact just to spend more time in the virtual worldAdolescents who cannot play the game experience a lossAddicts will become irritable, anxious, or depressed when forced to go without it (Leung, 2004).An addicts takeI stopped bathing. I didnt eat unless it was a quick snack I could eat in front of my computer. I lost weight. My skin was pasty and pale. I didnt shave or comb my hair. I did nothing. I looked so bad my mother told me I looked more like a heroin addict.

Effects of Video Game AddictionExposure to movie and TV violence increases aggressive behavior in children (Harvard, 2009).Brain scan research shows that aggressive thoughts and violent scenes in shooter games activate similar parts of the brainVGA addicts may suffer health problems from back strain, eye strain, carpel tunnel syndrome, and repetitive stress injuryLoss of sleep and lower quality sleepOften the worst damage done is to marriages and real-life relationships

Video Gaming and AdolescentsChildren of substance abusing parents are shown to have an increase risk of using gaming as a coping mechanism It is harder for a teen to recover from gaming addiction, especially because using the computer is a necessary component of their home and school environmentsWhen pressed, most adolescents say they arent gaming any more than peersA parents takeMy son loved baseball and played Varsity on his high school team until he discovered X-Box Live. His grades plummeted after he discovered the game, but it wasnt until he quit the baseball team that I knew something was seriously wrong. He loved baseball too much. He won a baseball scholarship for college and dreamed about playing professionally. Now, nothing else matters to him except the game.

Treatment for Video Game AddictionFor most adolescents, treatment is involuntary and usually mandated by parents, teachers, or the judicial systemSuccessful treatment must address both the gaming behavior and help an adolescent navigate the normal developmental tasks of identity formationTreatment should focus on effective problem solving and social skills necessary to build self esteemEffective Counseling Strategies for Video Game AddictionFamily therapy can be effective, bringing in an older sibling or friendTeach adolescents about body language, facial expressions, and role playing conversations

Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)Joining forming a therapeutic alliance with all family membersDiagnosis identifying interactional patterns that allow or encourage problematic youth behaviorRestructuring the process of changing the family interactions related to problem

What can parents do?Often parents fall into an enabling role with a gaming-addicted adolescentParents should take the issue seriously and agree on common goalsParents should:Set limits on play timeUse the rating system /online controlsKeep consoles out of the bedroomRest tired eyes and musclesPush for non-online computer gamesChange the power sourceCheck how their child is doing in schoolBecome more involve in their childs lifeWithdrawal from VGASymptoms of VGA withdrawal include anxiety, depression, irritability, trembling hands, restlessness, and obsessive thinking or fantasizing about the Internet or video gamesIf the game provides a more appealing, exciting, and supportive environment than does the family, the adolescent will continue to gravitate to the game to meet unmet needsCase StudyResources for Video Game AddictionQuestions?

ReferencesGame on. Harvard Health Letter, October 2009, p.4-5.Leung, L. (2004). Net-generation attributes and seductive properties of the internet as predictors of online activities and internet addiction. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(3), 333-348.Tanner, L. (2007). AMA considers video game overuse an addiction. The Associated Press. Retrieved on November 10, 2010 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2007/06/27/AR2007062700995.htmlYee, N. (2006). Motivations of play in online games. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9, 772-775.Young, K. (2009). Online gaming: Symptoms, risk factors, and treatment. In A. Browne-Miller (Ed.), The Praeger International Collection on Addictions, Vol. 4 (p. 1-16).Young, K. (2009). Understanding Online Gaming Addiction and Treatment Issues for Adolescents. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 37: 355-372.