News: The Real Story Behind Gaming Addiction

[News Bot]

Gamespot is running a feature looking into the facts behind gaming addiction: what it is, whether it exists, and why the need still exists for objective research into the issue. Quoting: "[Richard M. Ryan, a psychologist and professor of psychology, psychiatry, and education at the University of Rochester in New York] thinks the lack of quality research into video game overuse will be rectified with time as games become more sophisticated in the ways they satisfy people's psychological needs. 'We have a lot of people, some in the media and some in the sciences, who are too ready to make very strong claims about video games, whether we are talking about aggression, addiction, or cultural estrangement, based on very little evidence. I think that is especially how the media often sells stories. Some commentators exaggerate risks, and on the other hand there are defenders of games who deny any and all problems and attack any perceived bad news. Games are relatively new in our culture, and such vacillation between hysteria and denial I suspect often greets any new phenomenon, from hip-hop to the Internet to video games. Both sides usually have some part of the truth, but it may be a while before at least we as scientists, much less as a society, have a coherent understanding.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

[UUUU]

I'm torn by all these addiction analyses into various aspects of human behaviour as to wether it's just people looking to place blame outside themselves for what they choose to do or wether they legitimately can't control their own responses.

[Ze-Tomb]

It would be interesting to see result if they do manage to do a study.
I myself only play games as to pass time or for recreation wiht mates, whilst I admit, I have a forum addiction, I am certian I lack a gaming addiction.

But the sad thing is, some people really can't control themselves and can't stop playing games. I believe this is only because of lack of willpower, laziness, peer pressure (to play a game), general societal behaviour or routine which is starting to really dig into their life.

Just my 2 cents/pec.

[UUUU]

Originally Posted by Ze-Tomb

It would be interesting to see result if they do manage to do a study.
I myself only play games as to pass time or for recreation wiht mates, whilst I admit, I have a forum addiction, I am certian I lack a gaming addiction.

But the sad thing is, some people really can't control themselves and can't stop playing games. I believe this is only because of lack of willpower, laziness, peer pressure (to play a game), general societal behaviour or routine which is starting to really dig into their life.

Just my 2 cents/pec.

I know there's some things that I don't resist doing (gaming included) but I haven't really come across anything I can't resist. But maybe that's the addiction. I know I could stop therefore I mustn't be addicted Or is it an addiction only if it affects your life in a bad way? Or maybe I don't understand because whatever is in the addicted isn't in me.

[NytewolfAU2k7]

It would be a long story that's for sure

I can quit WoW any time I like...

No, I'm not playing WoW...

Honest

[Ze-Tomb]

Originally Posted by NytewolfAU2k7

It would be a long story that's for sure

I can quit WoW any time I like...

No, I'm not playing WoW...

Honest

Hehe
I played WoW for a good 6 months, which by coincidence is the avg time a MMO player will spend on any MMO game, and then just stopped. Had a few days on my account left, played the 2nd last one away saying that I might come back and I havn't touched it again.

[PSY]

You can be addicted to lots of others things .Not only games.. And I think ppl know from theirselfs if they're addicted or not .

[Svarog]

You guys are too addicted to the obsolete and overrated reality

* Plugs the cable back into the socket on the back of his head *

[Jimmy B]

Originally Posted by UUUU

I'm torn by all these addiction analyses into various aspects of human behaviour as to wether it's just people looking to place blame outside themselves for what they choose to do or wether they legitimately can't control their own responses.

Well, that's basically what the article says too. There's not been enough objective scientific study on the matter to determine whether or not gaming addiction exists in a medical sense, hence the need for more study.

Originally Posted by Ze-Tomb

I have a forum addiction

Yeah, I know what you mean. I feel a bit out of the loop if I don't read EF for a while, I like to know what's going on.

Right - less reading, more playing!

[Ze-Tomb]

Originally Posted by Jimmy B

Yeah, I know what you mean. I feel a bit out of the loop if I don't read EF for a while, I like to know what's going on.

Right - less reading, more playing!

I have to agree on this, Ilike being up-to-date. Sometimes it may cut into my gaming time, other times it fits perfectly.

More playing, More Reading, Less Posting.