October 07, 2024
That all depends on what you mean by video game addiction. First of all psychologists are divided as to whether or not video game addiction even exists although the mounting evidence does seem to suggest it probably does.
Addiction is a mental illness and is about loss of control. True video game addiction can’t be quit without external help so the issue is the same regardless of the media the addictive game is being presented through.
During my study on video game addiction, I have had a very uncomfortable feeling that non-gamers are using the term video game addiction to refer to their own personal frustrations and fears surrounding normal gaming where the gamer regularly games at times when the non-gamer would prefer them not to be gaming. VR technology might make it even more annoying for the non-gamer who won’t even be able to see the screen that the gamer is on to see what the gamer is doing.
Children being a bit more frustrated with non-gaming parents’ ignorance of the world they have introduced their own children to but refuse to join and children turning up late for meal times because non-gaming family members wrongly think on-line games can be paused and failing to provide adequate notice or parents worrying unnecessarily because of some overblown media headline isn’t and never was video game addiction.
Signs of true video game addiction will include several of the following which has been getting worse over the course of a year and can’t be explained by any other means such as depression or social anxiety.
Failing at all aspects of life including work, education and social life. Diminishing attention to personal health and hygiene.
Poor diet resulting in unexpected weight loss or weight gain. Increasing time given to gaming and obsessing about the game when not playing.
Increasing irritability when not gaming. This is not the same as sudden outburst of justifiable anger at an insensitive non-gaming friend or family member yanking a controller out of their hand mid game.
Constant tiredness due to gaming through the night or having restless sleep due to obsessing about the game.
Constant headaches due to eyestrain or tension in neck muscles due to poor posture when gaming and excessive screen time. If you are worried about someone you know why not check out this video.
