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What is Video Game Addiction?

Alex Tree
Alex Tree

Video game addiction is the compulsive or excessive playing of video games. People with this addiction routinely play games instead of attending to everyday tasks and socializing. They might also develop unhealthy eating habits, become irritable when not able to game, and in rare cases die from exhaustion due to non-stop gaming. While the constant playing of video games can severely interfere with someone’s life, video game addiction has not been researched enough to officially call it a disorder. Still, some countries have medical facilities and health professionals who help people overcome the addiction and return to a healthier way of living.

The symptoms of video game addiction are similar to drug and gambling addictions. Addicts play for increasingly longer periods of time, and their avatars, reputation, or achievements in the game gradually become very important to them. When someone is addicted to a video game, he or she might start to choose gaming over maintaining friendships in the real world. An addict might also neglect hygiene and lie about his or her total time spent gaming each day.

Video game addicts may play games for extremely long periods of time.
Video game addicts may play games for extremely long periods of time.

Many people experience one or two of these symptoms while still maintaining their schoolwork, jobs, and relationships. To some experts, those people are still considered addicts due to their excessive gaming. Other experts disagree, arguing that gaming is a form of leisure activity not unlike watching television or knitting, both of which can take up hours of time. What is considered unhealthy, addictive behavior is a controversial subject.

A video game addict may choose gaming over maintaining friendships.
A video game addict may choose gaming over maintaining friendships.

There are quite a few highly publicized incidents of people committing suicide or murder and dying of exhaustion due to video game addiction. For example, in South Korea, a three-month old baby died from malnutrition while her parents played a game in an Internet cafe. In addition, some people have been stabbed or strangled to either earn money to play video games or to exact revenge for taking the game away. While similar crimes happen for thousands of other reasons, these cases are labeled the work of video game addicts because the deaths were spurred by games.

Children who are closely monitored by their parents while playing are less likely to develop video game addiction.
Children who are closely monitored by their parents while playing are less likely to develop video game addiction.

In some countries, clinics have been opened in response to crimes and concern regarding this kind of addiction. These countries include the United States, Netherlands, and China. Twelve-step programs and some kinds of therapy have proved effective at treating gaming and other Internet-related addictions. Not every patient finds addiction therapy beneficial, however, and there has been at least one case of a patient committing suicide during treatment.

Discussion Comments

donasmrs

Does anyone remember the news of a three month infant dying in South Korea because her parents were too busy playing a video game at an internet cafe? The irony of it was that the game was about raising a virtual character. So they raised the virtual one and neglected their real child.

I've also seen other similar, horrible video game addiction stories in the news. Maybe some kind of regulation needs to be put in place.

candyquilt

@fBoyle-- It's not that easy. Taking games away can backfire and teens can find many opportunities to play video games outside of the home. Therapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy is needed.

fBoyle

I've read that one in ten of young gamers have an addiction to video games. Maybe the statistic is even higher now. I think it's sad that youth are spending all their time playing video games. I'm sure that this leads to all sorts of bad consequences like bad relations with parents and poor grades.

I don't have children yet but I'm sure that I would not allow my kids to play video games. Not more than a limited time frame anyway.

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    • Video game addicts may play games for extremely long periods of time.
      By: tomispin
      Video game addicts may play games for extremely long periods of time.
    • A video game addict may choose gaming over maintaining friendships.
      By: Crashoran
      A video game addict may choose gaming over maintaining friendships.
    • Children who are closely monitored by their parents while playing are less likely to develop video game addiction.
      By: Kurhan
      Children who are closely monitored by their parents while playing are less likely to develop video game addiction.