Do You Have a Gaming Addiction?
Gaming is wildly popular, especially among young men. According to the Hiding in Plain Sight blog featured in Forbes magazine, there are over 215 million U.S. gamers, and despite the fun and sense of community it can provide, for some, gaming addiction is becoming a problem.
How do you know when playing video games is problematic? According to Corey Arranz, PsyD, clinical psychologist at Kaiser Permanente in Georgia, here are signs to watch for:
- Does it interfere with eating, sleeping, or maintaining and broadening real-life relationships?
- Has it become a priority over school or work?
- Do you feel a persistent need to play?
Arranz explains that video games target the reward center of the brain by providing a rush of dopamine, just as if we had accomplished a task in real life. Each time you conquer a level or master a particular challenge, you get a fresh dopamine shot. “And the chance to gain these accomplishments keep coming at you when playing, so it’s easy to want to keep playing for another minute, then a few minutes more, until it’s suddenly another hour,” Arranz noted.
For teens whose impulse control is not yet as well developed as it will be in adulthood, the urge to keep playing can be particularly strong.
How to help teens cut back on gaming
If you’re concerned about your teen’s gaming habits, Emily Gonzalez-Holland, Director of Marketing Operations at Cloud9 Esports, recommends approaching the topic with compassion and an open-minded attitude. “Saying, ‘we’re concerned because we missed you in these social circles’ or ‘noticed you stopped showing up to X activity,’ is a good way to start the conversation.”
Arranz encouraged sticking to the facts – which can’t be debated – and how you feel without accusations. “You game too much” is not a helpful conversation starter. For example, you might point out the fact that their grades are suffering or that you did not see them all weekend.
When gaming becomes problematic, parents can consider the following:
Establish expectations rather than taking gaming away
“Rewards work better than punishments,” said Arranz. “Rewards support behavior you want. Punishments teach a child or teenager to not engage in the activity when you’re around.” They don’t lead to meaningful change.
So instead of throwing away the gaming console, try telling your teen they can game after they do their homework, if they go to bed on time, or if they spend time offline with friends. Eventually, their habits will change as they make time for these other activities.
Set an agreed-upon timer
If the teen is meeting expectations and gaming is allowed, set a timer for 15 minutes before the final end time, to help them wind down and find a stopping point.
Discuss how video games are designed to target the brain’s reward system
Once teens understand the ways games can hack your brain’s reward system, they may even choose to play less, “since teenagers don’t like being controlled or manipulated,” said Arranz.
Talk with a mental health professional
If you need further help, recognize that “the constant need to play games could be driven by a desire to avoid something serious,” said Gonzalez-Holland. Seek out a mental health professional to determine if there’s an underlying cause, such as loneliness, anxiety or depression.
Read the full Forbes article here or on WellBeings.com.
The “Hiding in Plain Sight” Blog is a series for the 2022 documentary Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness, produced and directed by Ewers Brothers Productions, executive produced by Ken Burns. It premiered on PBS in June 2022 and is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Cassata, Cathy. “Hiding in Plain Sight: Gaming Addiction.” Forbes, 1 Nov 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathycassata/2022/11/01/hiding-in-plain-sight-gaming-addiction/.