Video Game Addiction Heather Titus Video Game Addiction

Video Game Addiction Heather Titus

Video Game Addiction Over the last decade, the concept of internet addiction has grown in terms of its acceptance as a legitimate clinical disorder needing treatment Excess video gaming is identified as a subtype of internet addiction Video game addiction, or more broadly video game overuse, is excessive or compulsive use of computer and video that interferes with daily life. Users play compulsively, isolating themselves from, or from other forms of, social contact and focusing almost entirely on in-game achievements rather than broader life events

Types of Video Game Addiction Computer games Online games Video games (single player or multiple inperson player games) on gaming consoles and handheld devices, including cell phones Massive Multi-user Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs)(ex. World of Warcraft)

Statistics on Video Game Addiction More than half of American adults play video games The average elementary school child plays video games between 9 and 11 hours a week; teen boys play an average of 13 hours per week According to the AMA, as many as 15% of children and adolescents may be addicted to video games (Tanner, 2007).

The draw to video games The addiction stems from the creation of virtual worlds MMORPGs allow the gamer to completely immerse themselves into a living, selfcontained society MMORPGs worlds continue to exist whether playing or not Players can decide every intricate detail of their character, experiment with their personality & try new identities

Characteristics of Video Game Addicts are typically grade school to adolescent males, although some addicts are college-aged or beyond Hardcore players tend to be younger players who may suffer from emotional problems or low self worth or esteem (Yee, 2006).

Signs of Video Game Addiction 1. Preoccupation with gaming 2. Lying or hiding gaming use 3. Loss of Interest in Other Activities 4. Social Withdrawal 5. Defensiveness and Anger 6. Psychological Withdrawal 7. Using Gaming as an Escape 8. Continued Use Despite Consequences

Signs of Video Game Addiction, Continued Gamers neglect sleep, proper diet, exercise, hobbies, and real human contact just to spend more time in the virtual world Adolescents who cannot play the game experience a loss Addicts will become irritable, anxious, or depressed when forced to go without it (Leung, 2004).

An addict’s take “I stopped bathing. I didn’t 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 didn’t 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 Addiction Exposure 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 brain VGA addicts may suffer health problems from back strain, eye strain, carpel tunnel syndrome, and repetitive stress injury Loss of sleep and lower quality sleep Often the worst damage done is to marriages and real-life relationships

Video Gaming and Adolescents Children 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 environments When pressed, most adolescents say they aren’t gaming any more than peers

A parent’s take “My 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 wasn’t 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 Addiction For most adolescents, treatment is involuntary and usually mandated by parents, teachers, or the judicial system Successful treatment must address both the gaming behavior and help an adolescent navigate the normal developmental tasks of identity formation Treatment should focus on effective problem solving and social skills necessary to build self esteem

Effective Counseling Strategies for Video Game Addiction Family therapy can be effective, bringing in an older sibling or friend Teach adolescents about body language, facial expressions, and role playing conversations

Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) Joining – forming a therapeutic alliance with all family members Diagnosis – identifying interactional patterns that allow or encourage problematic youth behavior Restructuring – 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 adolescent Parents should take the issue seriously and agree on common goals Parents should: 1. Set limits on play time 2. Use the rating system /online controls 3. Keep consoles out of the bedroom 4. Rest tired eyes and muscles 5. Push for non-online computer games 6. Change the power source 7. Check how their child is doing in school 8. Become more involve in their child’s life

Withdrawal from VGA Symptoms of VGA withdrawal include anxiety, depression, irritability, trembling hands, restlessness, and obsessive thinking or fantasizing about the Internet or video games If 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 needs

Case Study

Resources for Video Game Addiction

Questions?

References Game 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. Cyber. Psychology & 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/A R 2007062700995. html Yee, N. (2006). Motivations of play in online games. Cyber. Psychology & 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.