Is There Such A Thing As Gaming Addiction?

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You may have considered the questions "Is there such thing as a video game addiction?" for either yourself or a loved one. They have been playing for several hours and seem more interested in the action than in what is going on in real life or their school studies.

The quick response is to such a question is "yes a person can become dependent on video games". Although this is a quick answer, this doesn't explain many of the issues underlying the worries of video game addiction. Some researchers are actually labeling such behavior it "Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)". However some researchers have a name for your phenomena, they do not have definitive data supporting the 'Internet Addiction Disorder' being a diagnosis. The research community continues to be debating the issue. The psychology field often views the behavior as connected with depressive or panic disorders, while downplaying the addiction aspect. Addiction experts go through the addictive behavior pattern and recognize whatever they see. The body of research that does exist that relates to game playing has evolved using the criteria for gambling addictions. Both the behaviors often share much in keeping.

Addiction experts are aware that a person can become hooked on many behaviors. Some behaviors have a very higher addictive potential than these. Any behavior that will rapidly change our mood and mental state has a potential for addiction. Since gaming often includes repetitive behavior routines as far as that other areas of a person's life are suffering, it shares much that resembles other addictions.

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Among the factors that makes games addictive is the action. Many video gaming have fast action. When action occurs quickly, it works to reward the individual playing the game. Similar to gambling addictions the person is stimulated from the action occurring and needs more. Despite each of the activity occurring on the screen, the real action is at their head. The person playing devises more ways to create more action. Despite each of the activity observed on the control pad, the experience going on in their head is even faster and more intensive. There is major planning and problem-solving going on in their head. Those wanting encounter are actually seeking stimulation of those parts of their brain associated with their game play. Each time the brain is stimulated, new brain cell connections are in place. Those new connections are in fact rewiring their brain and exactly how it processes information. The more action and play, greater new neural connections are made. The person playing the video games is literally rewiring their brain.

Should you could hook up a cat scan of a person's brain while they are playing video games, it would become very apparent what parts of the brain are being stimulated. The PET scan would also show the extent of these stimulation. The amount of brain chemicals developing is staggering. The addictionology pros who view 'video game addiction' because of this perspective often see little improvement in the brain activity of heavy game users with that relating to gambling addicts.

Since the neurotransmitters are more powerful than street drugs, the climate change can be very dramatic. In many cases, the problem for the video gamer is more often associated with depressed moods or anxiety, rather than the game play itself. It is suspected that the video gamers are using their play to 'self-medicate' or avoid unpleasant emotional mood states. Should you watch a video game addict, you will observe the mood altering facets of video games. The release in the neurotransmitters creates a visible mood change, and modify in their thinking. Comparable to a person can become being hooked on a street drug, they do so with their own self-produced chemicals. You will also see the drug/addiction seeking behaviors also. Instead of "jonesing" for street drugs, they actively look for video games for their fix. It is not by accident that people make reference to World of Warcraft as "World of War Crack".

Unlike street drugs, drug screen is not going to provide indications of whether someone is hooked on video games. The addition of every one of the lights, sounds and vibrations add to the level of stimulation. With all the improvements in 3-D technology, how much stimulation provided by games has risen. Many gamers seek a complete sensory experience. Greater potential sources of stimulation the better. This desire for total sensory experience is part of what motivates vibrating controllers, three-dimensional effects and stereophonic sound. They wish to 'feel' the experience in as much ways as they can. Rather than the lack of stimulation as present in sensory deprivation tanks, they're seeking stimulation on the opposite end of the sensory spectrum.

The down sides arise when the volume of play becomes destructive. In the event the person neglects hygiene, way of life, sleep, eating along with other self-care, they are well on their way to addiction. Since game titles are more acceptable stimulation than gambling or drugs, many addictive personalities often turn to this activity to hide or mask their addictions. As opposed to overcoming their previous addiction, they've transferred it to a different object. If you watch serious video game players you will see the numerous mood altering experiences they go through when playing their games.