Friday, June 15th 2007
Video Game Addiction Possibly a Mental Disorder
According to a 10 page report released by an American Medical Association committee, excessive video game playing leads to social dysfunction. As a result the committee is recommending it to become a formal disorder in the upcoming revision of the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV.' In the report a heavy video game user plays for more than two hours per day. This in turn leads to negative actions such as aggressive thoughts and aggressive behaviors. The report also compares video game addiction with that of pathological gambling.
Source:
1UP
76 Comments on Video Game Addiction Possibly a Mental Disorder
They already have a "detox" clinic in Europe don't they? Read about it a while back, but I can't remember whether it had opened, or was about to open.
I do think I may possibly have the disorder though, my family and I have noticed I have become more aggresive, but I don't think playing more than two hours a day is enough to constitute much. Otherwise, we should say that anyone watching more than 2 hours of TV a day has a disorder.
If they are saying that everyone who plays more than 2 hours a day of *any* video game leads to aggressive thoughts, aggressive behaviors and social dysfunction, they obviously have never played a video game in their lives.
I play around 2 hours each day, and this is on an FX 5200 and the 4 games that it can actually run (although of course, not very well). When I get my 8800 GTX I will play at least 4 hours a day (mostly because it will be summer, but still).
And to say that I am somehow aggressive in any way, is childish - the people they probably base this report on.
And socially dysfunctional, well.. thats a whole new form of crazy. I mean, I'm socialy functioning right now! Do I have to actually speak to the person's face to be labeled as "socially functional"? Well, I do that too, but I do not prefer it and I'm sure many people feel the same way.
And personally, I'm sick and tired of people have do not play video games trying to regulate it. But maybe that what you get when you elect the Bush administration who put a guy in charge of regulating the internet, who does not even know what it is!
EDIT: And they are calling playing 2 hours a day an "Addiction"? Not only is that not true, as an addiction has to do with someone not being able to quit, and we all can.. and I dont think u can call 2 hours of anything addictive behavior, but even if I WAS addicted to playing video games, whats wrong with that? It's a way to pass the time and it's one of the greatest experiences ever, all due to the digital space which has revolutionized the world. Do people who go hang out with their friends most of the day get labeled as "addicts" even though that probably IS an addiction? No.
**woot woot ** alarms are ringing :twitch:
Although like I've said, I've been getting more aggresive as of late, but I'm sure that constant backpains, an annoying parent that won't give me five minutes of freedom, and exams can all do that to a person.
If what the say is correct, then almost everyone has a mental problem:slap:
Just like, if you were to do a full body scan, even the healthiest people would be found to have something wrong with them.
Anywho, I think those who play fighting games more tend to get mad at the games. Lord knows I did when playing SF2. I dont know how many times my TV was bitch slapped with my SNES controller. Would drive me crazy. However, Im mellow now and anger issues have to do with stupid people and those who cannot drive.
Video games are not the problem; it is the sociological factors that determine the kind of human being you are; such as parents, religion, school, politics etc
Idk, I just know some people who I game with who are completely horrible when it comes to being sociable anymore.
At the same time this just happens when people spend their time by themselves period.