Looks Like I Don’t Have To Worry Anymore!
Because games are no longer addictive in any way. At least, that’s the message people will get after reading this Reuters story. Thanks to Russell for linking me today’s juicy article:
Addiction experts say video games not an addiction
The AMA’s committee on gaming effects “backed away from its position” that “video game addiction be listed as a mental disorder in the American Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders,” something that we covered recently on this blog (Follow this link if you want to check out that article). What I really dislike about this coverage, especially from the headline and Dr. Stuart Gitlow’s quotations in the article, is that 95% of the readers are going to walk away from this saying “Games are in no way addictive,” and that assumption is going to cause major harm to thousands of people. People are going to take Gitlow’s quotes, and figure that there is no problem. The other 5% are going to see that he’s trying to make an ideological point, and to me this is beyond unacceptable.
Basically, I take from this quote (and he may have been misquoted), that he ascribes firmly to the disease model of addiction, considered by many (myself included) to be outdated and harmful when used too broadly.
The ‘regular folks’ out there have already gotten used to calling our gaming problems “game addiction,” and very few people are going to understand vague references to ideologies or stigmas. They’re going to see that an “expert” has said that “gaming isn’t an addiction.” Period. Never you mind that (and I’m going to say this in the addictologists native tongue of obscure) people can develop dependencies on behaviors and display compulsivity that affects neuro-hormones. Even on a basic level, an inability to stop gaming is causing major problems that Shavaun and myself have seen personally. Something serious is happening. Certainly, not all of it is addiction, and that’s a key point that I have been making for months, but part of it absolutely has deep ties with addiction.
But on a lighter note, it’s good to see that the experts still love their alcoholism analogies:
“Working with this problem is no different than working with alcoholic patients. The same denial, the same rationalization, the same inability to give it up,” Dr. Thomas Allen of the Osler Medical Center in Towson, Maryland.
Ok, so I’m guilty of the occasional alcoholism analogy. Some of what we’re seeing looks like alcoholism, but we must keep in mind that gaming is not only substance-free (for most gamers, most of the time =P), but it’s pulling people in with completely unique hooks. Can, for instance, a kitten become addicted to Battlefield 2?
No, but he sure does love his Irish beer!
While I am happy, overall, with the direction of this medical debate, I am deeply, deeply disappointed with this media coverage. I am also deeply disappointed in addiction workers who are putting treatment ideology before public health and awareness.
But to end this post on a high note, the following quote will show why I’m happy with the debate. The committee took a second look at “Internet Addiction” criteria, found it lacking, but are still open to the probability that some type of exposure is necessary.
The psychiatrist group has said if the science warrants, [game addiction] could be considered for inclusion in the next diagnostic manual, which will be published in 2012.
Neils Clark :: Jun.25.2007 :: Game Addiction, Games ::
I agree with you completely. There are people who will look at this headline and walk away saying “hey, there really aren’t any problems…”
Mental health care providers,psychologists, “addiction specialists”, for-profit treatment programs, self-help groups and medical professionals of all kinds have been arguing about what “addiction” is forever. The point of the DSM is supposed to be to look at research about psychological struggles people are having and get a consensus on the definition in order to standardize what we are all talking about…
Ha, can we harness the energy from that attempt and light up the planet for the next million years?
People have their pet ideologies for all kinds of reasons, often self-serving. The real question is “Are people being harmed?” and if so, what will help them. I don’t really care what word we use.
A therapist asked me today “How can the games be addictive - you just put it on “save” right?
People who have never been immersed in an MMO themselves really do not get it.
(Mildly ideological phrase follows) Amen, sister!
Where have you two been all this time? Took you long enough!
I viewed Ms. Scott’s videos on Youtube today and came around here perusing your sites. I am so impressed that she took the time to listen to her sons and play! Not enough love in families anymore…
As one of the relatively few female game designers, now gone ex-game designer in favor of having a life - I seem to have accumulated a gutful of recurring and multi-faceted thoughts on many of the issues that you are covering.
Regarding the topic above, IMHO it’s a symptom of something a bit more insidious - forgive me being blunt, as I am not generally one to buy into any conspiracy theories, but hell…money talks these days, doesn’t it?
Considering the game industry has overtaken the film industry…how hard could it be to pay the AMA a nice sum?
And what reason have we to assume that Associations of any sort - even the loftiest, have any sort of concern for ethical practices anymore?
At the same time, consider the flip side - I also do not agree with much that the pharmaceutical, medical, and psychotherapeutic industries has done in order to create a new disorder every other day!
Taken a step further - the AMA states that game addiction is NOT a real addiction, let sufferers degenerate over time, then simply reap the benefits of treating them for depression as opposed to game addiction, while not upsetting their game industry benefactors in any way. Not like anything like this hasn’t ever happened before…ahem.. It’s a disturbing slice of a much larger and more disturbing pie.
On the brighter side, there are still those with the sense to try to live “normal” even if considered “old-fashioned” lives. I myself have chosen this, and still struggle with keeping balance. If only I had the time and space to even describe what it feels like on the ‘inside’ of the ‘industry’…though perhaps you already know.
I myself am still coming to terms with who I am, my career, etc.
In any case, you both seem sincere in your approach, in offering practical, sensible help to those in need of it. I look forward to reading more. Don’t consider the book closed…remember the words, “May you live in interesting times.” We are cursed, my friends. ^^ But it ain’t over yet.
Hey Rogue. It’s been a busy weekend, and it’s late, but I just wanted to say thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the kind words.
I’m hoping that some of these big game makers have more integrity than to buy off medical research - and for the most part the game makers I’ve met don’t seem the type. The Bioware guys and gals especially struck me as ultimately very involved in the health of their players. A very select small few other companies that I came across at the GDC did seem extremely heavy handed and cold - but then I can’t really be surprised when I put developers on the defensive.
As a game industry insider, especially with a woman’s perspective, I honestly hope that you drop by from time to time.