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Are video games addictive? (Read 4171 times)
freediver
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Are video games addictive?
Jun 25th, 2007 at 11:02am
 
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Experts-debate-video-game-addiction/2007/06/25/1182623779945.html

American doctors are backing away from a controversial proposal to designate video game addiction as a mental disorder akin to alcoholism.

Addiction experts also strongly opposed the idea at a debate at the American Medical Association's annual meeting.

They said more study is needed before excessive use of video and online games - a problem that affects about 10 per cent of players - could be considered a mental illness.

"There is nothing here to suggest that this is a complex physiological disease state akin to alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders, and it doesn't get to have the word addiction attached to it," said Dr Stuart Gitlow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and Mt Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

A committee of the influential physicians' group had proposed video game addiction be listed as a mental disorder in the American Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, a guide used by the American Psychiatric Association in diagnosing mental illness.
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ex-member DonaldTrump
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #1 - Jun 25th, 2007 at 11:08am
 
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Are video games addictive?


A big fat yes from me.

It's a little rich comparing it with alcohol addiction though.
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skeptic
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #2 - Jun 25th, 2007 at 11:16am
 
i think video games are addictive, but i don't think it should be classified as a mental illness. if u think about it, ur essentially saying that a mental disease is not being able to switch off an x-box, playstation, etc.
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cautious connie
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #3 - Jun 29th, 2007 at 7:51pm
 
If someone becomes so immersed in the gameworld that it is the focus of almost all their waking thoughts then I think it is clearly addiction. Similarly it is clearly mental illness if they have difficulty seperating themselves from the character they play online, and reality from the online situation. Similarly if the kinds of judgements, reactions and patterns of speech in the game start being acted out in the real world.

I am sure it can be an addiction and can lead to mental illness, but on the other hand many people enjoy games and can still happily leave them and dont allow them to effect their real behaviour or fill all their waking thoughts and desires.
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #4 - Jun 29th, 2007 at 8:20pm
 
Are video games addictive?

Yes yes and yes!!!!
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Sprintcyclist
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #5 - Jun 29th, 2007 at 8:34pm
 
video gamesare probably as addictive as chatrooms .   Wink
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #6 - Jun 29th, 2007 at 9:24pm
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on Jun 29th, 2007 at 8:34pm:
video gamesare probably as addictive as chatrooms .   Wink



good point! Embarrassed
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ex-member DonaldTrump
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #7 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 2:49am
 
Sprintcyclist wrote on Jun 29th, 2007 at 8:34pm:
video gamesare probably as addictive as chatrooms .   Wink


Shut-up freediver. You're making me wanna go out into the real world and get a life reading posts like that.  Grin Wink
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freediver
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China hoping to cure internet addicts
Reply #8 - Aug 8th, 2007 at 8:08pm
 
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/China-hoping-to-cure-internet-addicts/2007/08/08/1186530438404.html

China is launching an experimental summer camp for 40 youngsters to try to wean them off their internet addiction, state media says.

The 10-day program would accept youngsters aged between 14 and 22 once they had undergone a psychological test and evaluation, the China Daily said.

About 2.6 million - or 13 per cent - of China's 20 million internet users under 18 are classed as addicts, state media have reported.

The youngsters at the summer camp would be treated for depression, fear, unwillingness to interact with others, panic and agitation.

It would appear to be offering a softer option than the internet Addiction Treatment Centre near Beijing which uses a blend of therapy and military drills to treat children addicted to online games, internet pornography and cybersex.

Concerned by a number of high-profile internet-related deaths and juvenile crime, the government is now taking steps to stem internet addictions by banning new internet cafes and mulling restrictions on violent computer games.

In a joint effort with the camp, Shanghai's education commission has organised a volunteer group to patrol the city streets and stop minors entering internet cafes.
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Re: Are video games addictive?
Reply #9 - Aug 9th, 2007 at 9:06am
 
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The youngsters at the summer camp would be treated for depression, fear, unwillingness to interact with others, panic and agitation.

It would appear to be offering a softer option than the internet Addiction Treatment Centre near Beijing which uses a blend of therapy and military drills to treat children addicted to online games, internet pornography and cybersex.


The summer camp would have to be for the children of the very very rich.  It's hardly likely the Chinese Government would use a soft option for these kids.
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