from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto:
"Can a person be addicted to video games?" he asked. I said that the word aEU~addictionaEU(tm) was being used loosely, because gaming obviously doesnaEU(tm)t involve the ingestion of chemicals; a characteristic of mainstream addiction. However, there may well be changes in the brain as a consequence of repeated patterns of behaviour, and in that sense might parallel addiction. Off the top of my head I also thought that there might be other parallels.
Video games result in very rapid reinforcement compared to, say, school work. Depending on what we think the reinforcement is, it might be seen to come rapidly and frequently. For example, if your friends tell you that shooting down an alien rocket is super cool, you might be able to have that sense of accomplishment many times per minute, and with only a split-second delay after your action. Sense of accomplishment, or mastery, or achievement, can get a real workout with a video game. Rapid, high-rate reinforcement is a well-known way to instill a behaviour.
The reinforcer is available at very low economic cost, thereby reducing one of the most obvious barriers to addiction. Availability is also enhanced by the absence of age barriers and the (then) widespread appearance of game parlours.
Another barrier to addiction is missing, in that the route of administration is not aversive, as smoking is initially, and as needles are in the common mind. Becoming skilled at the game brings more challenging levels of play, with less frequent reinforcement, but most importantly, the reinforcement occurs on an unpredictable schedule. Once a behaviour has been instilled by a reliable, high-rate schedule of reinforcement, it can be amazingly resistant to extinction by shifting to an unpredictable schedule of reinforcement.
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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I don't deny that the people who are "addicted" to games don't have a problem. But I do think that addiction is the wrong word. Theres another word I am searching for, but can't think of it. Could also be classified as a psychological condition.
The person is searching for an escape. It could be movies, sports, television, gambling, religion, or games for instance. These games are not addicting. Cocaine is addicting.
On a different note, thanks to Columbine and EverQuest "related" suicides, video games have a bad rap. People pointing the fingers have never personally played and/or enjoyed a good video game. They are no different then movies. In fact, many Role Playing games such as FF7 have had better plots and story than most movies.
I can't wait till this generation is in power. Something needs to be done. We are losing the seperation of state and church. The church is beginning to run the government. The FCC is out of control. The movie "Demolition Man" is becoming more of a reality.
P.S: I'll look around for that word while im at work, i'm loosing valuable gaming time.
I agree, "addiction" is a rubbish term. Its a MERE symptom of a monstrous mental ailment, perhaps OCD, OCPD, Depression whether dysthmia or not...
Anyone with the predisposition to become co-dependent, perhaps from biological reasons (maybe like me, Ive always had OCD and thats cogenital), and this person finds an RPG, like Everquest (a game that provides all the formula to provide the dysfunctional person an escape from his/her miserable life), who wouldnt attach themselves to that online game?
Suree
Those who have been with us for any length of time will notice our paring down the use of the word 'addiction' on this site, in lieu of the more appropriate words, in my opinion, "excessive and compulsive" in terms of the behavior.
The whole phenomena we have been dealing with over the past 2.5 years, is one we are still working to define and understand. No doubt the semantics will change as our understanding of what all this is about continues to develop.
Ron
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
Discussion Board Administrator
On-Line Gamers Anonymous
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
"Excessive and compulsive" equals addiction and is consistent with widely accepted definitions:
The physical and psychological craving for a substance that develops into a dependency and continues even though it is causing the addicted person physical, psychological and social harm. The disease of addiction is chronic and progressive, and the craving may apply to behaviors as well as substances.
(Emphasis added)
Ron, I'm sorry if some people are uncomfortable with the word addiction, but clearly compulsive gaming fits the definition.
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Quote:Ron, I'm sorry if some people are uncomfortable with the word addiction, but clearly compulsive gaming fits the definition. I'm not uncomfortable with it, I just feel that the word 'addiction' is far too ambiguous for this board, just because of how many different socially accepted meanings it has. And a textbook definition really is only as good as how well it is accepted by a given social group. Quote:"Excessive and compulsive" equals addiction and is consistent with widely accepted definitions:Well, sorry but I must respectfully disagree mostly with this as I've disagreed with Liz from the beginning.
Incidentally, this has been the number one argument on these boards since the beginning some 2.5 years ago. I feel the main reason is just what I'm saying above, that the word 'addiction' carries too many different meanings for people. When you read the arguments as they play out, the people on both sides of the arguments are right...within the context of their respective arguments. But they often cannot find that middle ground.
I define my EQ play as having been excessive at times..and compulsive at times, and possibly even obsessive and compulsive at times. There have also been times where I've played when my play was neither obsessive nor compulsive.
One can do an activity excessively and not have it be compulsive. And one can be compulsive while doing something, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the person is being excessive.
"Addiction" the way I use and understand it, requires both, physical and psychological components, and indeed the definition you provided supports this.
Also, using the words 'addict' and 'addiction' within the a context of trying to help gamers recover, probably does more harm than it does good in my opinion, precisely because of how many negative connotations there are for those words.
If you want to help a culture, also in my opinion, you have to be sensitive to the verbage and 'language' of that culture in order to make the most headway. Gamers as a whole hate the words 'addict' and 'addiction.' Why force them to acknowledge they are helpless and worthless before they can get help? Why must someone bottom out before he can get help?
I think the term 'addict' only serves to disempower individuals who take on the term to describe themselves. This may be in part because of the Christian-based philosophy associated with the traditional 12-step program.
Anyway, I've kind of gone all over the board, but essentially I do differentiate between the words as I've tried to describe above. I think people can be any combination of compulsive, excessive and addictive, but that doesn't necessarily mean that these folks are all addicts.
I hope this wasn't too confusing.
Ron
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
Discussion Board Administrator
On-Line Gamers Anonymous
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
Quote:Why force them to acknowledge they are helpless and worthless before they can get help? Why must someone bottom out before he can get help?
Step One never suggests "worthlessness," but helpless is a good word to describe my addiction. I started breaking free when I lay prone on my rec room floor crying out to God, "I can't stop..."
Why do we have to bottom out before getting help?
C.S. Lewis once said that "Pain is God's megaphone to a deaf world." Human nature often demands that people get a rude awakening, in my case clear evidence that I had incurred a mountain of financial debt, destroyed my career potential, neglected my wife and my relationship with God.
Briefly stated Ron, as a Christian I firmly believe that many addicts (of which I am one) need to hit the bottom before clawing their way back to the light.
The addiction paradigm fits my experience. If others gain freedom from compulsive gaming by other methods, I will rejoice with them nonetheless.
...retired from A.O. for 38 days...
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Quote:The addiction paradigm fits my experience. If others gain freedom from compulsive gaming by other methods, I will rejoice with them nonetheless.And that's perfectly fine - I was just offering the idea that each person must define the extent of his particular problem, which may be similar, but probably somewhat different than the next person.
Anthony Robbins refers to the "bottoming-out" process as someone hitting his 'threshold.' Essentially it is the same thing and in fact, he gives techniques for someone to get to that point more quickly in his own mind so he can begin the healing process sooner.
For example, if you ask anyone who has made a major, significant turnaround in his life, more than likely he will be able to define that 'moment' in which he made the decision, "Now is the time to change." I do believe in it, but I just question whether or not someone has to actually get to that point to create real change. What a waste for many who go years and years fighting and struggling before they reach that point where they bottom out and make change...their lives completely in turmoil or destroyed requiring many years for the individuals to regain their foothold if that is even possible by this time.
What if we could take these people in turmoil and give them tools and/or techniques of some kind that can help them turn around based upon where their life is right now WITHOUT having to first make that descending drop to misery over the course of months or years.
I do believe that technique exists and is a combination of the proper therapy and a hearty dose of spirituality in whatever form is right for that person. Those whose lives have turned to hell from years of excessive, compulsive online game playing cannot heal by simply willpower. It has to be a combination of techniques and processes. This isn't to say that one absolutely cannot do it with just willpower, but chances are if someone does, there are other underlying 'helping' factors in play.
The healing process isn't easy, but it is possible, and unlike other traditional 'addictions,' it IS possible to beat and overcome this problem. This, I believe, is one of the major reasons I differentiate this 'problem' from other traditional addictions.
Ron
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
Discussion Board Administrator
On-Line Gamers Anonymous
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
Quote:What a waste for many who go years and years fighting and struggling before they reach that point where they bottom out and make change...their lives completely in turmoil or destroyed requiring many years for the individuals to regain their foothold if that is even possible by this time.
Yes it is a terrible waste.
Ron, I remain convinced that for an addictive personality, it is very difficult to move forward without experiencing the "turmoil" you spoke of.
If the addictive or otherwise desstructive behaviour did not create severe logical and natural consequences, I don't know whether most people would be motivated to make positive life changes. In fact, interpersonal and physiological consequences are key indicators that the behaviour is a manifestation of an 'addiction.'
Quote:What if we could take these people in turmoil and give them tools and/or techniques of some kind that can help them turn around based upon where their life is right now WITHOUT having to first make that descending drop to misery over the course of months or years.
I think that would be great. I hate seeing people suffer...
Some people reading this post may remember the first Indigo Girls album. I agree with a line from one of the songs:
Quote:...we are gluttons for our doom.
Most addicts I have known over the years (I was a social worker for many years) would agree with that assessment of human nature.
Theologians speak of "prevenient grace" in the lives of people. Essentially, this implies that God gives each of us the desire to be free from the sin and behaviours that ensnare us.
I believe that is the only way to move forward into the light of freedom. For my part, I acknowledge that without severe consequences - depression, job loss, marital strain - I would not be fast approaching two months game-free.
B.D.
Edited by: bgh at: 4/20/04 8:30 am
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Quote:For my part, I acknowledge that without severe consequences - depression, job loss, marital strain - I would not be fast approaching two months game-free.And I can see that. For myself, it wasn't until I woke up one day and really looked at how my life was. My 'threshold' was when I wrote to a friend whose life was similarly chaotic and told him all the reasons he should quit EQ and get his life back on track. That threshold moment was when I realized that everything I was telling him...I was really telling myself. It's been uphill ever since. Not an easy uphill...but kind of like "Frodo, Samwise and Gollum up the mountain of Doom" kind of uphill. Each step was a step of progress, but was filled with twists and turns and some backsliding now and then.
While I'm not a Christian, which I've mentioned from time to time, I do understand how much a difference spirituality can make in one's healing. But why merely settle for "Let go...let God?" Why not combine one's faith with other tools to get better more quickly?
About 2 years ago, I started working on a text for OLGA called "Slaying the Dragon - A Guide for Self Empowerment and Recovery." It was essentially a guide with those 'tools' that I mentioned to help one take control. It was designed specifically to use in conjunction with one's faith. Having just re-read it, I'm thinking of finishing it, cleaning it up a little and posting it here in these forums. The 12-Steps is certainly a self-contained program if one chooses to follow it. But I see no reason that you can't have "supplemental" materials, as long as those materials don't detract from the main goal of the healing process. In the case of OLGA, it's the 12-Steps.
Ron
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
Discussion Board Administrator
On-Line Gamers Anonymous
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
Apart from a fundamental difference in religious belief, I think we're in agreement. The Lord of the Rings contains powerful religious imagery that I have also found helpful.
Here's my program:
* Journaling
* Gardening
* Learning HTML
* Bible study
* Accountability relationship with pastor
While you won't see me compromise on the identity of God and the redemptive ministry of Jesus Christ, the other things I'm filling with my life with are helping to crush my desire to pour my life down the time sink, and that is what Olganon is all about.
B.D.
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Sounds like a great recipe for success. I like the accountability thing with a real live person also. That in itself is very helpful to have a person who can watch you grow and change, especially someone like a pastor who has more than just a passing interest.
I congratulate you on the extensive work you are doing. Each day gets a little easier as I'm sure you are seeing by now. Helping others here is also a great work you need to add to your "program." Whether you realize it or not, it is a very important part of your healing process...accountability in another fashion
Ron
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
Discussion Board Administrator
On-Line Gamers Anonymous
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002