Compulsive gaming a social problem, not an addiction
by Alex Ziebart 
Nov 25th 2008 at 8:00PM
Slowly but surely, people are finally starting to gain an actual understanding of gaming, and it's a nice thing to see. The BBC recently reported on gaming addiction with some insight from Keith Bakker, the head of a clinic in Europe targeted at helping gamers. 90% of gamers who spend long hours gaming, he says, aren't addicts at all and addiction counseling isn't the right treatment. Compulsive gaming is a social problem, not a psychological problem.This is a sentiment many gamers (the non-compulsive kind, mind you) have held for a really long time. Games aren't the problem for young gamers. Poor parental care is a problem, environment is a problem. Communication is important. Healthy environments are important. Games for teenagers tend to be an escape, a place to go where you don't necessarily need to deal with real problems at that age, like social issues, personal troubles, stress and anxiety.
At that age, the single most important thing for a parent is communication with that person, and if necessary, intervention. It's the age where you start facing more adult issues, and teenagers should be allowed to try and work through them, but if they get bad it's time to step in. Many parents don't currently understand the 'world of technology,' it's a foreign issue to them, not one they understand... or care about at all in some cases. You see it more than you would hope.
I think the failure to understand is the most prevalent issue right now, because the current generation is the first generation where gaming is not only commonplace, but accepted. It's breaking out of cult/niche status. Teenagers having their own computers is becoming far, far more common than it used to be. Gaming itself is not a problem, computers themselves are not a problem. A lot of parents and teachers like to either place blame on the objects themselves (my grandparents, who helped raise me quite a bit, did that for a time), or ignore it entirely. Understanding and communication is the answer, not laying blame, not ignoring the situation.
Gaming should be a hobby, and while you can make really good friends while gaming, I don't think it should be a 'second life.' This is coming from a guy that ended up living with people he met on WoW, mind. I know firsthand how good 'internet friends' can be. There's a balance you have to find though, and when it comes to younger people, finding that balance can be really, really hard. It's not something you can always do alone. Parents (or other mentor figures) really need to have a role in finding that balance, even if it needs to be done with a little force.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
kozom Nov 25th 2008 8:11PM
FINALLY!!!! someone says it's not the kid's fault for liking it it's the parents for not slappign the controller out of their hand and putting them outside!
Cyanea Nov 25th 2008 8:15PM
Some "internet friends" as you put it, can come through to be the best kind of friends you can have. I met my boyfriend through the internet, he lives three hours away, and we've been going out for nine months now. In fact, he's coming to my house for Thanksgiving.
I have very few in-person friends because of the area that I live in. My "internet friends" helped me through a pretty rocky period in high school, and quite a few have stuck with me since.
Xtyle Nov 25th 2008 8:23PM
No matter how much anyone admits it, the parents/family/social circles that are contributing to these problems won't go away.
a) bad parents will likely always be bad parents.
b) uncaring/unwilling family will always be uncaring/unwilling to intervene.
c) Would your guild leader tell your MT to quit WoW? heh.
Of course there are exceptions. But as with anything... we are responsible for our own lives and outcomes of our decisions. Anyone who challenges this is due for a BIIIIIIIG surprise when reality hits 'em between the eyes.
Defoe Nov 26th 2008 3:35AM
Couldnt agree more!
Charlie Nov 25th 2008 8:41PM
Its always eazier to blame an outside force than to recognize the faults within you.
PimpyMicPimp Nov 25th 2008 10:59PM
This
Xtyle Nov 26th 2008 10:16AM
This is a false perception, imho.
It is initially easier to blame someone else, but most successful people can tell you, it's easier to take ownership of your problems than it is to pass the blame.
Eisengel Nov 26th 2008 2:32PM
I'm a PhD student and I've dealt with a lot of smart people and a lot of people who are trying to be smart, and one thing I notice is that smart people will usually be the first ones to admit mistakes and ask for explanations. In fact there is a professor at my university who received a PhD from Princeton. I took a seminar with him on a subject related to his area of research, and usually once every other lecture he would ask one of the students to explain something they said that relates to a subject he has been studying for a few decades. He's easily one of the most intelligent people I've met and he asks for explanations a lot.
Everyone has things they don't understand, what differs is how they react to not understanding. If you get angry and blame the situation/idea/thing, you'll likely never understand it. If you instead ask questions and actively research what the thing is, it's likely you will understand it. It is more satisfying to our egos to be angry and blame the thing, and presume that we're perfect (or to put up the facade that we understand) than to admit that we are less than perfect and there is something we actually don't understand.
Taytayflan Nov 25th 2008 8:43PM
Aww man, when I saw the link at the end, I thought it would be something like [Backhand] or [Concussion Blow].
Oh well, Intimidating Shout works too.
grelk Nov 25th 2008 8:52PM
What about [Grounding Totem]?
:P
Hoggersbud Nov 25th 2008 8:53PM
Interesting couple of threads on Wowinsider today. But sadly, I'm afraid there will be more argument than warranted here too.
Zoisite Nov 25th 2008 8:56PM
Thank god for studies like this.
The term 'Addiction' is thrown around nowadays, like children's diagnoses of ADD and the like.
I play WoW an average of 40 hours a week. It's not because I phyically require it to function anymore (read: addicted), but rather that I can have a social life with others who have similar interests and personalities to my own.
I find WoWing a much more pleasant way of interacting with my family and friends overseas than phone calls or email. What better way to end a boring topic of conversation than to say "Pulling!" and getting their attention back onto the game, and off whatever ridiculous gossip they want to share?
Even better, if you're done dealing with people, it takes no time at all to say "All right, gtg, see you folks tomorrow" and log off.
Yay for convienience in social interaction with online and RL friends alike!
MinotaBoomking Nov 26th 2008 5:03AM
^ this we call a 'win'
BooDizz Nov 25th 2008 8:55PM
Maybe shes born with it?
Maybe is Maybelene
Zoisite Nov 25th 2008 9:13PM
As an addendum:
Obsessive gaming is a problem some people face. If you can't log off, even when you really NEED to, if you can't go outside for a few hours without the game being on your mind, if when out with friends the only thing you want to do is go home and log in, if you are physically neglecting yourself or neglecting loved ones, you DO have a problem.
If you play too much, and you want to do something about it, there are things you can do. Parents should have their children's account information, and should activate the parental controls. You can even do it to your own account, if you have enough self-control to not go switching it around whenever you please. Not to encourage sharing account information, but giving the parental controls to a truly trustworthy person (i.e. a parent or spouse) can go a long way in controlling your gametime.
Also, at least once a week, schedule something fun outside the house with friends or loved ones. Go the the beach, the mall, the library, whatever. Give your mind something else to focus on.
Hoggersbud Nov 25th 2008 9:44PM
Sadly, some of us don't have friends we can go out with, and before you say "Well, go out and make some" it'd be helpful to realize that it's not always that easy. After a few tries of going out and trying, I realized it wasn't worth it to me, as the experience was truly hollow and ultimately unsatisfying, I stopped wasting my time.
And before you say it, no, I realized I had no friends long before WOW ever existed, possibly before Warcraft even existed.
Same applies to going any of the places you suggested. I go, and I find...no pleasure in it. So been there, done that, not for me.
Except maybe going to the library. But that's really just to pick up a book or two, read it, and not socialize with anybody, so sometimes I just do that at home anyway.
appljaxe Nov 25th 2008 10:06PM
I multiboxed, i have lvl 80's on both of my account. I'm a father too, I have 7 years old and 12. They havent played this game yet (not yet, with all the [anal] running around with the kids on global chats! no way for now) by the time they reach 16 i'll be handing down the accounts to them. and they'll be responsible gamers. lol! so say parents nowadays aren't in technology.?I'm 40'sh and a casual hardcore raider.
OMFGrhombus Nov 26th 2008 8:52PM
Finally some sense! The ESRB is there for a reason. Parents have no one to blame but themselves. This post made me happy.
:D
ScytheNoire Nov 25th 2008 10:52PM
Any good doctor who specializes in addictions will tell you that things like gaming and shopping cannot be addictions by their very nature. They are escapes and compulsions, but not addictions.
It is a word that is misused too much. Too many don't understand the true nature of addictions, which always have to do with chemicals and the way the brain functions.
Typically those who are gaming addicts are using it to get away from other problems. It's an escape.
HerriPaul Nov 26th 2008 2:49PM
Does it really matter how it's defined?
Isn't it more important to ask whether or not the 'addictive' activity is interfering with outside behavior/activities?
E.g. are we in a 'recession'?