I’ve written a handful of posts on “internet addiction disorder” and a piece on video game addiction, but the Philadelphia Inquirer had story today on a combination of these issues with “massive multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs).” Basically these are video games that create an alternate universe where human beings play as fictional characters in real-time along with and against other people around the world. As the sophistication of this technology increases, more people are sucked into this virtual world and begin to develop real psychological problems such as social isolation, depression, difficulty in work and relationships, and being disconnected from reality. Fortunately this article gets it right, this type of behavior is an impulse control disorder like pathological gambling not an “addiction” per se. I think for some people that MMORPGs can provide a valuable style of social interaction, but it can become problematic when more time is spent with this depersonalized interaction than real interaction with other people. It will be fascinating to see DSM-V when it arrives, particularly in how advances in computer technology will be introduced as clinical disorders.
(9 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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12 Responses to “Online Gaming Addiction?” (Pingbacks/trackbacks not shown below)
John M. Grohol, Psy.D. at 2:40 pm on
October 13th, 2006
There’s not nearly enough large-scale, clinical studies at this time to think for a moment that any of this kind of stuff will make it into the DSM-V. (Maybe in the section of disorders requiring further study, but that’s it.)
People spend too much time and get “sucked into” all sorts of things — books, TV, socializing with friends, stand-alone video games, you-name-it. I have yet to see or read where or how the Internet is significantly different, so much so that it deserves its own special “disorder.”
Keeping in mind that at the heart of MMORPGs, the key is socializing. World of Warcraft wouldn’t be so captivating to its millions of players who pay a monthly fee to play if it didn’t have direct and constant human interaction.
Bethany Purvis at 10:23 am on
December 12th, 2007
I think that addiction to games such as world of warcraft is very real. My stepson sits up all night playing and has cut himself off from friends and family, he hasn’t got a job and doesn’t go to college either, he avoids interaction with real people prefering to interact only with those online who although are humanbeings are interacting as characters and not real world people, it is a virtual world that provides an alternative to real life. I find it very disturbing that a 17 year old would rather sit in his room all night until 9am then sleep for hours during the day than go out with friends drinking and misbehaving and going to work to afford drinking etc. If he lived with us the ocmputer would have been removed long ago, but if you look at his behaviour and his inability to function in society this gaming addiction has much the same adverse affects as any other addictions, say drugs or alcohol.
Mark Jerrid at 11:57 am on
January 16th, 2008
I think that that is bad. It seriously beats my story of how my only son was addicted to online games in Iraq, where he was tortured and addicted to WoW and crack at the same time, while being gay and having HIV, the worst part being that were Iraqi Christians. Totally beats it.
Louise at 6:55 pm on
February 16th, 2008
Hi folks,
I’m a journalism student in the UK writing a feature on people who live their lives through their computer.
I am really keen to find some good case studies of people who are compulsive online users of games/msn/facebook, who would be willing to talk to me candidly about it… do you spend as much as 12 hours a day, or more on your computer interacting with people? does it make you happy?
Psychologists say that being happy is often about being with friends and loved ones, but I wanted to look at how that fares up with people who use a virtual world predominantly as a means of communication, therefore isolating themselves.
It’s a print piece, so I’d be happy to speak with people via email or phone- whichever they prefer.
I’d love to hear from you, wherever in the world you are. My email is: louise_driscoll@hotmail.com.
Many thanks
Ghislaine Mahler at 10:56 am on
March 2nd, 2008
I am astounded to see psychology experts spending much of their time and efforts arguing whether or not spending hours on video games is an addiction or not. Who cares? The bottom line is that millions of kids are sinking into fake internet worlds. They become suicidal, violent, hostile to their families, and unable to cope with the real world whatsoever.
Kids need help and their parents have no clue what to do.
I just started a blog for parents of videogame addicted kids, please join and add your comments and resources.
http://videogameaddiction.blogini.com
John M. Grohol, Psy.D. at 2:25 pm on
March 2nd, 2008
We Must Do Something!
That’s the cry of well-intentioned and well-meaning people throughout history. And if you know your history, it follows that if you do not have a strong empirical link between Behavior A and Stimulus B, you shouldn’t just “Do Something.” Because that something could very well be an over-reaction or make your child (or the situation) far worse.
Look back and see how many people complained about how television was corrupting our children. Now they watch 4 hours a day (on average), and does anyone complain?
Karen Noy at 7:59 pm on
March 12th, 2008
I am a single parent of a 14 year old son i bought a 3 month subscription for world war craft by doing so my son who stays in room constantly was up all night hes failin 4 classes he also optained my credit card informaton and ran up close to 1500 dollars buying things for this game he has almost financiaaly ruined me is it bad oh yes it has to be stopped or we will end up losing more than money
I think that this debate, about “is it an addiction - is it a part of impulsive/compulsive disorder…” while very necessary in professional circles, is unfortunately sometimes harmful harmful to the untrained person with the problem or the concerned loved one.
The point seems to be (and I am not a professional, just an interested layman)that the jury is still out on this one.
But
No one denies that there is a problem, people just aren’t sure what the true source of the problem is. If someone is playing video games to the point that all else in their life suffers - they have a problem, and if they can’t stop playing, (whether you call this as addiction or not) they should probably get some help so that they can stop playing quite so much.
Also, although there is intense professional debate about what to call this problem - everyone seems to agree (again, as far as I can tell) what the solutions are. Cognitive behavioral therapy and in some cases medication, as well as a full screening for co-occurring disorders.
Dr. Grohol, I guess the question I would ask is, do you think that someone who is playing video games at an intensity that is disruptive to her life, and cannot stop, needs professional help? Shouldn’t they “Do something”?
John M. Grohol, Psy.D. at 9:03 am on
April 3rd, 2008
Yes, of course they should do something. They should try and use proven time management techniques or other self-help methods on their own first — they cost nothing to try, and if they work, you’re on the road to recovery. Sometimes it helps to enlist a trusted friend’s help when you try such techniques, someone who can hold you accountable and hold your feet to the fire if need be.
But if that doesn’t work, they should go and seek out professional help. But any trained and experienced mental health professional can assist a person with this sort of concern, because in various forms, it’s a concern most professionals have seen in their practice.
And indeed, cognitive-behavioral techniques seem to be effective in helping people with this concern. Any experienced cognitive-behavioral therapist can be of assistance to a person with these kinds of issues.
Dr. Grohol,
Thank you for your quick and considered reply. What you say makes sense - and if self help will work - then that’s the best help for sure!
I personally think that we are at the tip of the iceberg here - a brave new virtual world, as it were - and the growing pains we’ll see during the next decade or so may be great. It is tragically and philosophically very interesting though…
Just a person... at 7:01 pm on
April 7th, 2008
I know why things like WOW are so addicting and that is because of the socializing with people and the the ability to create an all new persona. You can be a person that nobody wants to hang with bacause of some reason like your “ugly” or “weird”; and in these other realms/worlds they can be a person everybody likes. I think WOW is like facebook or myspace except you have an online world to interact with. I do believe that many people get TOO envolved with these online worlds and one may think that they are neglecting friends for virtual ones but many actually go online to be with friends and hangout. The trick is moderation…
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There’s not nearly enough large-scale, clinical studies at this time to think for a moment that any of this kind of stuff will make it into the DSM-V. (Maybe in the section of disorders requiring further study, but that’s it.)
People spend too much time and get “sucked into” all sorts of things — books, TV, socializing with friends, stand-alone video games, you-name-it. I have yet to see or read where or how the Internet is significantly different, so much so that it deserves its own special “disorder.”
Keeping in mind that at the heart of MMORPGs, the key is socializing. World of Warcraft wouldn’t be so captivating to its millions of players who pay a monthly fee to play if it didn’t have direct and constant human interaction.
I think that addiction to games such as world of warcraft is very real. My stepson sits up all night playing and has cut himself off from friends and family, he hasn’t got a job and doesn’t go to college either, he avoids interaction with real people prefering to interact only with those online who although are humanbeings are interacting as characters and not real world people, it is a virtual world that provides an alternative to real life. I find it very disturbing that a 17 year old would rather sit in his room all night until 9am then sleep for hours during the day than go out with friends drinking and misbehaving and going to work to afford drinking etc. If he lived with us the ocmputer would have been removed long ago, but if you look at his behaviour and his inability to function in society this gaming addiction has much the same adverse affects as any other addictions, say drugs or alcohol.
I think that that is bad. It seriously beats my story of how my only son was addicted to online games in Iraq, where he was tortured and addicted to WoW and crack at the same time, while being gay and having HIV, the worst part being that were Iraqi Christians. Totally beats it.
Hi folks,
I’m a journalism student in the UK writing a feature on people who live their lives through their computer.
I am really keen to find some good case studies of people who are compulsive online users of games/msn/facebook, who would be willing to talk to me candidly about it… do you spend as much as 12 hours a day, or more on your computer interacting with people? does it make you happy?
Psychologists say that being happy is often about being with friends and loved ones, but I wanted to look at how that fares up with people who use a virtual world predominantly as a means of communication, therefore isolating themselves.
It’s a print piece, so I’d be happy to speak with people via email or phone- whichever they prefer.
I’d love to hear from you, wherever in the world you are. My email is: louise_driscoll@hotmail.com.
Many thanks
I am astounded to see psychology experts spending much of their time and efforts arguing whether or not spending hours on video games is an addiction or not. Who cares? The bottom line is that millions of kids are sinking into fake internet worlds. They become suicidal, violent, hostile to their families, and unable to cope with the real world whatsoever.
Kids need help and their parents have no clue what to do.
I just started a blog for parents of videogame addicted kids, please join and add your comments and resources.
http://videogameaddiction.blogini.com
We Must Do Something!
That’s the cry of well-intentioned and well-meaning people throughout history. And if you know your history, it follows that if you do not have a strong empirical link between Behavior A and Stimulus B, you shouldn’t just “Do Something.” Because that something could very well be an over-reaction or make your child (or the situation) far worse.
Look back and see how many people complained about how television was corrupting our children. Now they watch 4 hours a day (on average), and does anyone complain?
I am a single parent of a 14 year old son i bought a 3 month subscription for world war craft by doing so my son who stays in room constantly was up all night hes failin 4 classes he also optained my credit card informaton and ran up close to 1500 dollars buying things for this game he has almost financiaaly ruined me is it bad oh yes it has to be stopped or we will end up losing more than money
I think that this debate, about “is it an addiction - is it a part of impulsive/compulsive disorder…” while very necessary in professional circles, is unfortunately sometimes harmful harmful to the untrained person with the problem or the concerned loved one.
The point seems to be (and I am not a professional, just an interested layman)that the jury is still out on this one.
But
No one denies that there is a problem, people just aren’t sure what the true source of the problem is. If someone is playing video games to the point that all else in their life suffers - they have a problem, and if they can’t stop playing, (whether you call this as addiction or not) they should probably get some help so that they can stop playing quite so much.
Also, although there is intense professional debate about what to call this problem - everyone seems to agree (again, as far as I can tell) what the solutions are. Cognitive behavioral therapy and in some cases medication, as well as a full screening for co-occurring disorders.
Dr. Grohol, I guess the question I would ask is, do you think that someone who is playing video games at an intensity that is disruptive to her life, and cannot stop, needs professional help? Shouldn’t they “Do something”?
Yes, of course they should do something. They should try and use proven time management techniques or other self-help methods on their own first — they cost nothing to try, and if they work, you’re on the road to recovery. Sometimes it helps to enlist a trusted friend’s help when you try such techniques, someone who can hold you accountable and hold your feet to the fire if need be.
But if that doesn’t work, they should go and seek out professional help. But any trained and experienced mental health professional can assist a person with this sort of concern, because in various forms, it’s a concern most professionals have seen in their practice.
And indeed, cognitive-behavioral techniques seem to be effective in helping people with this concern. Any experienced cognitive-behavioral therapist can be of assistance to a person with these kinds of issues.
Dr. Grohol,
Thank you for your quick and considered reply. What you say makes sense - and if self help will work - then that’s the best help for sure!
I personally think that we are at the tip of the iceberg here - a brave new virtual world, as it were - and the growing pains we’ll see during the next decade or so may be great. It is tragically and philosophically very interesting though…
I know why things like WOW are so addicting and that is because of the socializing with people and the the ability to create an all new persona. You can be a person that nobody wants to hang with bacause of some reason like your “ugly” or “weird”; and in these other realms/worlds they can be a person everybody likes. I think WOW is like facebook or myspace except you have an online world to interact with. I do believe that many people get TOO envolved with these online worlds and one may think that they are neglecting friends for virtual ones but many actually go online to be with friends and hangout. The trick is moderation…
