Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items
Slowly but surely, people are finally starting to gain an actual understanding of gaming, and it’s a nice thing to see. The BBC recently reported on gaming addiction with some insight from Keith Bakker, the head of a clinic in Europe targeted at helping gamers. 90% of gamers who spend long hours gaming, he says, aren’t addicts at all and addiction counseling isn’t the right treatment. Compulsive gaming is a social problem, not a psychological problem.
This is a sentiment many gamers (the non-compulsive kind, mind you) have held for a really long time. Games aren’t the problem for young gamers. Poor parental care is a problem, environment is a problem. Communication is important. Healthy environments are important. Games for teenagers tend to be an escape, a place to go where you don’t necessarily need to deal with real problems at that age, like social issues, personal troubles, stress and anxiety.
Continue reading Compulsive gaming a social problem, not an addiction
Compulsive gaming a social problem, not an addiction originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Leave a comment