When people talk about videogames, what are usually discussed? What themes are mentioned in their conversations? Videogames can be many different things to many different people. For some, videogames are a good way to relax after a long day of work, for others, videogames provide an immersive entertainment experience that cannot be replicated by books or movies (Republica, as cited in a 2013 proquest article). The American Psychiatric Association, however, views videogames as a possible gateway into a new kind of disorder. In 2013, the association released a manual that cites videogame addiction as an emerging phenomenon that warrants further research and study. This new affliction affects all sorts of different people from varying age and …show more content…
Those afflicted by videogame addiction exhibit symptoms very similar to other more established and studied addictions. Some examples of these other addictions include drug addictions, gambling addictions, and eating addictions, among others. These addictions all began as a pleasurable activity but devolved into a compulsion, or interference to a subject’s normal life. Typical cases of addiction cause problems and difficulties, not only for those suffering the addiction, but also for their families, friends, and colleagues. The afflicted’s troubles rarely only affect themselves. Mood swings, sleep deprivation, poor eating habits and hygiene, injuries to various body parts, societal withdrawal, poor attention span, and absenteeism are all problems brought about by addiction (Dellosa, 2010). These negative effects are all brought about by excessive usage or consumption of a substance or activity, so most experts agree that moderate consumption must be practiced to be able to gain helpful effects from these activities. Though there are certainly positive effects that can be brought about by gaming, videogame addiction is an emerging affliction that can destroy the health, relationships, and education of the …show more content…
These games usually have objectives that the players have to accomplish to move on to the next level or scene. In game achievements are handsomely rewarded, and if that is not enough to keep players playing, many games incorporate complex and engaging stories to keep people gaming. Nowadays, videogame making is a booming industry. The Marlborough Express (2015) reports that modern videogame companies boast enormous budgets for their productions; some enough to match big film studios’ movie costs. These companies make their games so captivating, appealing, and engaging that gamers cannot help but spend increasingly longer amounts of time playing these games. The same Marlborough Express article also states that it is in the game’s nature to be easy to lose track of time in, and as the amount of time spent gaming increases, so too does the probability of addiction. Videogame addiction is defined as an impulse control disorder, which means that it is similar to pathological gambling (UnityPoint Health, n.d.). Those afflicted with videogame addiction do not abuse an addictive substance like those addicted to drugs do, instead videogame addicts game for extended periods of time with little to no regard for their wellbeing and that of others. Videogame addiction certainly ruins the lives of many, more so since it exists all around the globe. The phenomenon of videogame