Why is computer games so addictive

Experts like Billieux, in fact, strongly cautioned against that kind of interpretation. One commonly cited example is serious sleep deprivation. If someone is consistently losing a lot of sleep over video games, chances are something bad is going on there.

Scott can attest to that. Over time, he got less and less sleep as he stayed up playing games — and it started hurting him throughout his everyday life. A good doctor puts these kinds of data points and anecdotes together to gauge whether someone is addicted to games.

Are they losing sleep? Are they failing to attend to major responsibilities like school and work? Are they neglecting family and friends? This applies to other drugs, too. Addiction is when someone uses these drugs compulsively despite the damage that follows.

So what makes the minority of people with addiction problems different than the majority? Some of it may be other mental health issues. Scott pointed out that his addiction flared up when he felt despair. Other mental health problems, like anxiety, could play a role too. It also could be genetic. Some people just experience fewer temptations, or have more willpower, than others.

Maybe video games, particularly free-to-play online games, are the only affordable release at the end of a long workday that a low-income person can find, making it easier for him to get trapped in it. And it could be all of these things combined or something else entirely. No one knows for sure, whether for gaming addiction or other forms of addiction. There are also factors that might make games uniquely risky compared to other activities, making it more likely that someone will become addicted to them and play far too much.

Billieux cited a patient who compared the rush he gets playing Fortnite , a very popular online multiplayer game, to his experiences skydiving. Consider what that means for this person. In the past, he would have had to take several steps, from booking a plane to physical travel, to get the rush he got from skydiving. Now, he just needs to turn on whatever device he plays Fortnite on and immediately get that same rush. And Fortnite is on every single gaming device, including phones.

So someone can play Fortnite literally all the time, certainly far more than they can go skydiving. Scott pointed out that this was a big problem from him: Working from home, he was always a few clicks away from games, and that made it easy to misuse them. In contrast, Scott still plays poker and card games — but now he does it face-to-face, not over the computer.

Even if he wanted to, it would be difficult for him to overdo these real-life activities, because they require physical travel and, since he plays with friends, setting up a time and place with other people.

Another issue is the possibility of immersion. This can be further compounded if a game, like World of Warcraft , has an online multiplayer element, compounding the immersion with socialization with other players. Increasingly, some other games are also adopting gambling mechanics, which introduces a whole new layer of addiction. One example is loot boxes, which players buy within games with in-game currency or real money for a chance at exclusive or powerful items. But there are other gambling-like mechanics in games, from a random chance at a powerful reward for completing certain repeatable challenges to literal in-game casinos with virtual slot machines, that can entice a person to keep playing for far longer than she would otherwise.

Still, even with these mechanics, only a small fraction of gamers get addicted, based on the evidence. Part of the concern here is that stifling video games could substantively harm people. Games are now used in education all the time. But beyond a medical setting, video games entertain people. They can let people relax after a hard day. Adults and children alike can develop unhealthy, obsessive relationships with video games that they love.

So is video game addiction even possible? Currently, there is no scientific consensus on when video game overuse becomes an addiction or if this is even possible. Another source of scientific skepticism is the fact that only a very small portion of gamers ever exhibit any signs of a disorder, especially the specific symptoms of withdrawal and tolerance.

For this reason, some scientists and researchers believe that video game overuse is a just habit or a symptom of another disorder and not an addiction in and of itself. Even without an officially diagnosed disorder, some people sacrifice their jobs and marriages to spend 60 hours every week playing on the computer. Many people have read about such cases or have had experiences which show that video games have addictive power. While anecdotal evidence is not scientific research, real-world experience and the growing awareness of other behavioral addictions explain why the concept of video game addiction is becoming increasingly accepted.

It is important to understand that the amount of time that someone spends playing a video game does not necessarily indicate an addiction.

After all, someone could spend many hours playing a video game just because they enjoy it but also stop without much difficulty. Withdrawal symptoms commonly characterize substance use disorders. While video game withdrawal is still being studied, researchers have documented possible video game withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, insomnia, aggressive emotions, and intense cravings to play video games again.

Moreover, video games affect the brain in the same way as addictive drugs: they trigger the release of dopamine, a chemical which reinforces behavior. For this reason, playing video games can be an addictive stimulus. These facts indicate that addiction to video games may be possible. Make a Call If you suspect that someone you care about suffers from an addictive gaming disorder, there are some important signs to watch out for.

Learn More. Studies show that most people who are struggling with the symptoms of video game addiction are playing multiplayer games on the internet.

MMPORGs are especially addictive because they offer an endless adventure inside a fantasy world where players can essentially live a different life as a new person. They provide an opportunity to escape reality and leave behind problems of the real world. Furthermore, MMPORGs and other multiplayer games host large communities of players where many people feel welcome, appreciated, and useful something they may not often feel in the real world.

Although the setting is virtual, the relationships are real. For the player, the sense of being part of something and having a role to play can be important and meaningful. This is especially true if the player does not experience social gratification in real life. For many people with a video game addiction, playing the game is not just a hobby. It is their social life and a pillar of their self-esteem. Video games which exist on social media closely coincide with social media addiction , another behavioral disorder which thrives on the feeling of being accepted.

The desires for escapism and social acceptance may not be the only causes of video game addiction. Numerous studies have sought to establish the relationship between video game addiction and other mental health problems. One study suggested that people who are depressed and cope with problems in an avoidant way are more likely to become addicted to video games. Almost all American children and teenagers play video games.

Nevertheless, addiction to video games is a risk for children of all ages. A child who plays video games obsessively will probably fail to study, finish homework, or participate in sports or school clubs. James St. Peter Waseca Waterville Wells Zumbrota. Iowa Decorah Lake Mills.

View map. Recent Posts. Speaking of Health. By Mayo Clinic Health System staff In our increasingly digitalized world, where most of us, and even our children, own electronic devices with screens, many parents and adults worry about the impact of screen use for themselves and their children. Is screen time damaging? How can gaming become an addiction? What can we do? Model healthy use of screens and video games.

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