News Original From MMOsite's columnist Theo Brothers
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90% of Gaming Addiction simply a "Social Problem"
January 4th, 2009 by Theo |
Have you ever felt that you had a gaming problem? Maybe even an addiction?
Well, according to Keith Bakker, the founder of Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants Europe's first clinic to treat gaming addicts, the vast majority of gamers they have treated are not actually addicted but rather socially dependant.
"These kids come in showing some kind of symptoms that are similar to other addictions and chemical dependencies... But the more we work with these kids the less I believe we can call this addiction. What many of these kids need is their parents and their school teachers - this is a social problem."
Bakker broke down what he feels are the critical issues connected to compulsive game use, stating to BBC news,
"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today... Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."
He further explained how important parental control and mentoring was to such compulsive users who are under age
"It's a choice, these kids know exactly what they are doing and they just don't want to change. If no one is there to help them, then nothing will ever happen." But at the same time said "...that 87% of online gamers are over the age of 18 - and once they cross that line, help is something they need to seek for themselves"
Keith Bakker's final point was that if he continues to label gaming as an addiction, it will remove all possible choice that these individuals have over their problems and stated that,
"In most cases of compulsive gaming, it is not addiction and in that case, the solution lies elsewhere."
The full BBC article can be found here.
Real addiction is still believed to exist according to the Smith and Jones' Website, and to defeat these addictive behaviours it is imperative to cut gaming out of the affected individuals life altogether, as referenced below.
"Gaming is a serious addiction.
We have seen gaming addicts go through the same type of withdrawal symptoms as drug and alcohol addicts. We, therefore, believe that true compulsive gamers will never regain control of their behavior. You have to stop--everything. Sounds frightening? It's not easy, but it is part of learning to live in the "real world"
As part of our unique treatment program, a gamer begins with detox by withdrawing from gaming. Gamers will participate in group therapy, working with psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists specialized in the treatment of gaming addiction."
What do you as gamers feel is the truth, does gaming addiction exist? If so, is it as serious as other dependencies' and how common is it within the gaming community?
