Video game addiction linked to personality disorders?

[Gralian]

Not sure if this goes here, but...

Following a thread someone made earlier asking about whether or not people were addicted to video gaming, i gave it some thought as to why it was i personally have that addiction. And what i came up with, was that it is because i most of all desire escapism / fantasy from the mundanity of normal life or indeed, a way to 'bury my head in the sand' from the problems i do face in life. It could be meeting a deadline, ignoring a problem... and such.

However, this is not the only reason. I suffer from Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD) and partial schizoid type behavioural disorder (wanting to remain by yourself, viewing others as a burden or interfering. Note that talking online is different because you do not have to deal with people face to face, whereas i would avoid a social situation for the sake of not wanting to interact with others) and mild depression. This is not to say i don't go out - of course, i do and hang with friends, but only on occasion... maybe once a week or fortnight do i go down to the pub with my mates for the night. But the point was that i play video games as something to keep me occupied and away from others as well as to break the mundanity of normal life, of which i find boring and devoid of anything to maintain my interest. I'd rather be shooting space aliens, no matter how pixelated they may be, or slaying dragons than putting on a plastic smile for everybody and trying to please them, if that makes sense at all.

I don't have any evidence to this theory, but i was wondering... do you think that the majority or a significant portion of video game addicts have some kind of depression or disorder that makes them so addicted?

 

[Inverse Skies]

Hmmm... it's an interesting theory you propose. You don't HAVE to have a disorder in order to enjoy videogames or be addicted to them (although admittedly I don't play them anywhere near as much as I used too). I guess the same could be said for a lot of things which people use to escape from their lives, gambling, drinking etc. If videogaming could light up the addiction and pleasure centres of the brain then it could theoretically explain why some people are more addicted to it than others. Of course, this is just idle speculation and would need some actual research done on the topic before it was considered.

 

[Pimppeter2]

You sound pretty normal for someone suffering from a personality disorder

 

[floppylobster]

Do you think that the majority or a significant portion of video game addicts have some kind of depression or disorder that MAKES them so addicted?

No.

Do I think that the majority or a significant portion of video game addicts have some kind of depression or disorder that means they find games more enjoyable or satisfying than other activities? Yes.

 

[Gralian]

You sound pretty normal for someone suffering from a personality disorder

Not everyone with personality disorders are quivering maniacs who belong in an asylum somewhere. I may go to see friends, for example, but that doesn't mean i find the experience anywhere near comfortable. You can bear with something without having to whine about it, if not at least for the sake of others. And you'd be suprised at what people are really like off the internet - here we're all the same because we only have the same medium of communication, text. But this wasn't really relevent to the topic. (Sorry for sounding like a rant)

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Dude I would much rather spend 8 hours wonderously exporing the Capital Wasteland or Cyrodil than walking around the grey, rainy city I live in seeing drunken idiots start fights with eachother and fat sluts fall off thier stillettos.

 

[klakkat]

I have a limited base of evidence to draw upon. So I'll examine those subjects I do know. I have actually been diagnosed with clinical depression, and am addicted to video games. One friend I know has self-esteem issues, and may have (but has not been diagnosed, to my knowledge) depression, and is addicted. Two other friends do not seem to have self-esteem issues and are unlikely to have clinical depression, but are still addicted to video games; one has a full-time job, the other does not. Two others I would classify as "not addicted" but will use games as a shared social experience (Rock Band with 4 players, etc) or will revert to video games when there is "nothing better to do." Several others use video games to fill time gaps when they don't have to do anything (casual gamers, to the letter), but generally dislike discussing games with others or playing with others (they prefer more traditional activities with other people, which can include going for a walk, watching a movie, playing board games, etc). I've seen no evidence of depression in the last two groups, and few signs of addiction.

So yes, it is possible there is some link between addiction to video games and mild-moderate levels of depression. Which is the cause and which is the effect is debatable, if there is any causal relation at all.

You sound pretty normal for someone suffering from a personality disorder

Not everyone with personality disorders are quivering maniacs who belong in an asylum somewhere. I may go to see friends, for example, but that doesn't mean i find the experience anywhere near comfortable. You can bear with something without having to whine about it, if not at least for the sake of others. And you'd be suprised at what people are really like off the internet - here we're all the same because we only have the same medium of communication, text. But this wasn't really relevent to the topic. (Sorry for sounding like a rant)

More to the point, if something is described as a "Personality Disorder" it is usually difficult to detect except under triggering circumstances. A personality disorder is much less severe than a "Mental Disorder" which can STILL be difficult to detect in most circumstances. Frankly, a strong attention to detail can easily conceal any potential personality disorder in any written media. Dyslexia is about the only one that might be obvious, and thanks to spell checkers, it's unlikely to show through anymore.

Dude I would much rather spend 8 hours wonderously exporing the Capital Wasteland or Cyrodil than walking around the grey, rainy city I live in seeing drunken idiots start fights with eachother and fat sluts fall off thier stillettos.

Actually, given the choice, evidence has proven me more likely to get drunk off my ass with real-life friends than do something in-game. One deterrent is that my friends don't always want to get drunk, the other is the cost of alcohol (I'm rather frugal, and not at all rich). The trick, of course, is that most times I'll get drunk with friends, and then I'll play some game once by myself again, still drunk. Or respond to a bunch of forum posts (like I'm doing right now).

 

[Pimppeter2]

You sound pretty normal for someone suffering from a personality disorder

Not everyone with personality disorders are quivering maniacs who belong in an asylum somewhere. I may go to see friends, for example, but that doesn't mean i find the experience anywhere near comfortable. You can bear with something without having to whine about it, if not at least for the sake of others. And you'd be suprised at what people are really like off the internet - here we're all the same because we only have the same medium of communication, text. But this wasn't really relevent to the topic. (Sorry for sounding like a rant)

Well to me it sounded like you just don't like being around people. Which is a bit odd, but nothing that different. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't let your AvPD really affect your life that much

 

[ShadowKatt]

I would tend to agree with you, just on the basis that much of the evidence tends to point that way. Truth be told, when you cast aside the casual gamers, most of your hardcore gamers have some sort of psychological issue, ie. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(The achievment hunters), Narcassic Personality Disorder(The asshole on XBL and PSN that goes after noobs and people with lower scores), and so on and so forth. But that's the thing. If you read the DSM-IV, following its guidelines the entire world is a really fucked up place. Ghandi and Mother Teresa have some seriously warped complexes(according to the book).

Myself, I don't have friends, online or off. I leave the house for work or to go do errands. I do not talk to people. I don't waste time on idle chit chat. My world view holds that the majority of the human race are so incredibly brutal and savage that they deserve extermination which is why I am just all for war in the middle east and eastern asia and everywhere else in the world. Let the nukes fly and watch humanity die.

Now, I work long hours(by myself, I might add), but when I get free time at all I fill it with games. So you tell me, is there a correlation between personality disorders and gamers?

 

[brunothepig]

I don't think it has anything to do with mental problems... I just love games. I'm a gamer. That sense of accomplishment. Oh, and you can't explode peoples heads in glorious slow motion in real life... This is almost the same as those arguments that serial killers started out with GTA. It's ridiculous.

 

[AcacianLeaves]

I think it's accurate to say that people with personality disorders enjoy playing video games, especially if said personality disorder hinders their social life. Personally I think this is a good thing.

Video games give people with crippling social fears a way to connect with people, or to have a large variety of experiences without being overcome by their disorders. I've known people who would never leave their home overcome some of their fears after interacting with people in an MMO setting. Some games let you learn social skills through the comfort of your own home, and may actually help people with such disorders.

If not that, it expands the experiences someone with a personality disorder can comfortably enjoy.

 

[Daveman]

I don't have any evidence to this theory, but i was wondering... do you think that the majority or a significant portion of video game addicts have some kind of depression or disorder that makes them so addicted?

basically yeah, often newspapers say that computer games cause kids to become antisocial. I think the reverse. Kids who are naturally more antisocial find video games more fun because of gaming's antisocialness. Basically they're naturally programmed to enjoy games more. and then get addicted from that

 

[klakkat]

I don't think it has anything to do with mental problems... I just love games. I'm a gamer. That sense of accomplishment. Oh, and you can't explode peoples heads in glorious slow motion in real life... This is almost the same as those arguments that serial killers started out with GTA. It's ridiculous.

To tell the truth, I have little concern that video games are causing mental or social disorders. It's possible, but frankly such things have to happen during a child's formative years, so the parents are mostly to blame no matter how significant the influence of video games. I won't go further into that subject; suffice it to say that it seems unlikely that video games alone are capable of causing mental or social disorders.

As for the other side of the coin, whether mental and social disorders cause increased likelyhood of a video game addiction, I can't be sure. It certainly seems plausible; if someone doesn't like interacting with people, then games often give them interaction without the personal element. So I can see there is likely a causal relation there, though we don't have any scientific evidence to back it up.

 

[SyphonX]

Video gaming is just the medium one would choose if they suffer from a personality disorder or any form of social anxiety issue. If you wanted to dive into another world, or simply just get lost in an activity to unwind, something that doesn't make you more stressful, then you would probably play video games. A lot of people read, or watch movies, but for many neither are stimulating enough, for the most part.

Consider yourself fortunate, because a large amount of people who grow up with some form of personality disorder, be it mild or severe, will do almost anything to comfort themselves and fit in, including expressing all their negative energy on others. Becoming a bully, verbally abusing those who are close to you or just having a severe disdain for others to make yourself 'feel better'. Ultimately, behavior like this is a downward spiral and is self-destructive as much as it is destructive.

For other, more normal folk, they like to immerse themselves in stimulating activities. The popular one these days is video games, and there is nothing wrong with that. It's time to stop treating games like they're an addictive narcotic substance. People need to get with the times. Before you know it, there will be a medication for video game addiction... A very expensive one, might I add.

I just watched an ad for some medication, and they announced one of the side effects as, "Some users may have suicidal urges after taking 'our pill', if you get depressed or feel suicidal, contact your doctor immediately." I am not joking, whatsoever. So, when you play games, do you feel the need to commit suicide? Probably not. So, it's probably best to take things into perspective before anyone jumps the gun and thinks they have a 'medicated illness' because they play a lot of video games. Last thing you want to do is take pills when you don't need them.

The advertising "pharmaceutical business" will be the next "big tobacco" farce, you just watch; Promptly following the high fructose corn syrup cover up. I mean seriously folks, is there any human condition one can achieve these days without having the potential to be medicated or 'treated'? No, there isn't. So unless you're really having problems or others are throwing you hints, then I'd suggest you just continue enjoying video games, watching your movies and reading books. Nothing wrong with being a little anti-social.

 

[Sgt Doom]

I'm more than a bit fucked in the head, video games don't hold my attention anything like they used to.

 

[Proteus214]

As happens with many addicts that choose to use drugs or alcohol, addiction usually comes about as a result of not being able to deal with past or present problems. I think that video gaming is a kind of "perfect fit" for someone that might have a personality disorder. They fill that gap in their lives that need to be filled.

 

[Simalacrum]

well, I do admit, I do sometimes feel like my Asperger Syndrome does have an affect on my (albeit fading) addiction to videogaming... It does, afterall, affect my lack of concentration in a non-working environment like at home (I know Autism/Aspergers is usually associated with social skills, but it doesn't always have to be the social side of things that it affects)

 

[Sion_Barzahd]

I found that i struggled to make friends as a kid, so i turned to gaming as it was a mentally engaging thing i could do without leaving my house.