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Video game addiction (overuse) is a coping mechanism in the face of increased anxiety in the modern world. I don’t think it directly causes issues as much as i

Video game addiction (overuse) is a coping mechanism in the face of increased anxiety in the modern world. I don’t think it directly causes issues as much as it enables or locks in certain behaviorally patterns such as being a NEET or similar. It’s really more of a symptom of a lack of support system in a person’s life, the same way social media overuse or drug abuse comes about. Real addictions have severe physical consequences like chemical withdrawals that can lead to death. I find that Self-Determination Theory is a good model to look at this with. Modern school and work life provide little autonomy, little relatedness, and little (desirable/appreciated) skill for the vast majority of people whereas video games do the opposite by providing essentially an ideal playground.

claytongulick 5y ago
> Video game addiction (overuse) is a coping mechanism in the face of increased anxiety in the modern world. You are stating this in absolute terms, which indicates to me that you have a solid source, or are an expert in the field. If so, can you please detail? From my background working in psychiatry (in-patient) for six years, it is certainly not that clear. > Real addictions have severe physical consequences like chemical withdrawals that can lead to death. So the sex addicts I treated didn't have a "real" addiction? The gambling addicts I treated didn't either? Or the extreme adrenaline addicts? Also, many experts in the field seem to disagree with you. See the proposed internet gaming disorder [1]. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming
- RhysU 5y ago
  Genuinely curious: Is video game addiction different in kind to anorexia? My understanding is the latter is often a symptom of wanting control over something. I see getting stuck on video games the same way.
  - throwaway306744 5y ago
    I would say they're different, because it's possible to remove a lot of the triggers associated with video games, gambling, alcohol, and drugs (by not having them easily accessible, for example) but it's not possible to do that with food.
- JPKab 5y ago
  I'm glad you responded because the person you were responded to exhibits typical thought patterns on addiction that I'm sure you are as frustrated by as I am. People don't seem to understand that drugs like cocaine flood the brain with dopamine and that's exactly what these video games are designed to do by the psychologists the game companies hire. I don't get why people don't seem to understand that it's alarming when video game companies are hiring people from the gambling industry in Vegas.

claytongulick 5y ago

> Video game addiction (overuse) is a coping mechanism in the face of increased anxiety in the modern world. You are stating this in absolute terms, which indicates to me that you have a solid source, or are an expert in the field. If so, can you please detail? From my background working in psychiatry (in-patient) for six years, it is certainly not that clear. > Real addictions have severe physical consequences like chemical withdrawals that can lead to death. So the sex addicts I treated didn't have a "real" addiction? The gambling addicts I treated didn't either? Or the extreme adrenaline addicts? Also, many experts in the field seem to disagree with you. See the proposed internet gaming disorder [1]. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming

RhysU 5y ago
Genuinely curious: Is video game addiction different in kind to anorexia? My understanding is the latter is often a symptom of wanting control over something. I see getting stuck on video games the same way.
- throwaway306744 5y ago
  I would say they're different, because it's possible to remove a lot of the triggers associated with video games, gambling, alcohol, and drugs (by not having them easily accessible, for example) but it's not possible to do that with food.
JPKab 5y ago
I'm glad you responded because the person you were responded to exhibits typical thought patterns on addiction that I'm sure you are as frustrated by as I am. People don't seem to understand that drugs like cocaine flood the brain with dopamine and that's exactly what these video games are designed to do by the psychologists the game companies hire. I don't get why people don't seem to understand that it's alarming when video game companies are hiring people from the gambling industry in Vegas.