Video Game Addiction

Computer Addiction to online games is fast becoming a recognized, diagnosable disorder.  In 2007 the American Psychological Association discussed rather video game addiction should be added to the new DSM in 2012.  Although they concluded that not enough research has been conducted on the subject, it is still interesting that the topic is being discussed by psychologists.  South park also aired an episode about being addicted to World of Warcraft, as well as an episode featuring a game called ‘heroine hero’.  In the media there have been several reports of people dieing after mass video game marathons, simply forgetting to eat food or from over stimulation.  China and Japan seem to be having the worst problem with video game addiction, to the point that China had to impose federal rules to stop teenagers from gaming so much.  In China, after three hours of play the rewards that characters get in game are cut by half, this was imposed to stop the high level of video game addiction that is present in China.  In the Netherlands a clinic has opened to treat compulsive gaming, the first of its kind.

The fact is that nearly everything in life can be addicting, but sometimes video games excel at getting people addicted.  Games like World of Warcraft are virtual brain candy, designed to keep users addicted by adding endless amounts of content.  A mundane task as grinding gold can be extremely addicting to the average user, simply because of the reward system that is in place.  Psychologists think that video games are addicting because they provide many basic psychological needs to the users.  Online video games offer rewards, virtual freedom, and often a connection with people.  Addiction to computer games can be caused by psychological problems such as antisocial personality disorder, depression, and social phobia.  Users want a way to escape from their reality, and video games provide the perfect escape.

Personally I have been addicted to video games in the past, I defiantly have the addiction gene.  I come from a long line of family of drug abuse and alcoholism, my uncle recently died from a life long heroin addiction.  During my sophomore year of high school I was notoriously addicted to the online game World of Warcraft.  I would stay up late raiding with my guild, or skip school to play the game.  It got to the point where the game was all I could think about, all of my favorite conversations were about the game.  My grades plummeted, I had no social life, and I was really mean to my family.  If my parents tried to take away the Internet I would punch holes in the wall, throwing a teenage temper tantrum.  If I didn’t get my needed fix I could not function, I was irritable and incredibly mean.  During the summer I was playing 12-14 hours a day, my sleep schedule was from 4am to 4pm.  I was like a zombie, and it was defiantly to escape away from my reality.  During the time I was depressed,  nothing made me happy except for the game.  World of Warcraft provided a virtual reality where I excelled, I was the best at what I did in the game.  Before World of Warcraft I was addicted to the FPS Halo 2, I played thousands of online matching and even did glitching.  Which wasn’t even playing the game, I would try to find secrets and cheats in the game.

Personally I feel that video game addiction is a real threat, but I would not consider it a mental disorder or a disease.  Anything in the world can be addicted and abused, it is all about moderation.  The best way to stop video game addiction is to take your kid into a new environment, away from video games.  My parents sent me to Hungary over one summer, getting away and having that incredible experience made me realize how short life is.  I didn’t want to spend it cooped up like a chicken all day, I quit that brain candy game World of Warcraft.  Some of my real life friends still play the game, it is hard to get them to listen to me but I think I have ignited the fuse.  To stop the addiction themselves the truly have to be the one that makes the decision.

MMORPG Gamers argue that online games help to build social interaction, dependency, and hand eye coordination.  World of Warcraft guilds require resume like applications to guilds, and if you raid dungeons that defiantly requires a hefty amount of commitment.  You can gain social skills from party interactions and your guild, but it really does not equate to the real world interactions needed for everyday life.  Although World of Warcraft may provide some life skills the cons defiantly out weigh the pros.  Get off your computer and start to work on your life, it is the only one you got.  Do not waste it getting epic loot and killing dragons.

Recently I have done very little video game playing, my first semester of college I didn’t do any at all.  Over the winter break I got bored every now and then and played some DOTA (Defense of the Ancients) but that is about it.  I will most likely play DOTA every now and then to get rid of some stem, but I won’t become addicted.  I actually thought about writing a personal memo about my video game addiction, I would structure it similar to a crack addict memoir that I read.  It would be pretty hilarious, but also would provide some insight to video game addicts everywhere.