According to a new study, one in 10 players of videogames show addictive behaviour that *could* have negative impacts on family, friends and study a report over at Reuters suggests.

"While the medical community currently does not recognize video game addiction as a mental disorder, hopefully this study will be one of many that allow us to have an educated conversation on the positive and negative effects of video games," Dr Douglas Gentile, an assistant professor of psychology at ISU, said in a statement.

Clearly this is not the first time studies into the effects videogames have on individuals have been held, and it's interesting the study tends to focus directly on negative impacts instead of any positive ones, but it's going to be a long time before we know anything substantial.

I guess at least studying videogames and the individuals who play them is a good thing in the long run, provided they're not always based on negative impacts.

nice topic

Apparently gaming could leading to a topicless post.

next there'll be gaming forums that attract morons :/

You're a 'topicless post'

err fixed :\



last edited by Steve Farrelly at 12:24:04 21/Apr/09

So basically it says 10% of people have addictive personality traits because I don't know anybody that doesn't play videogames. Whether it's Xbox, PC, Wii, DS or those annoying flash games.

I think it'd be good if addiction to video games was a disorder that could be focused on and helped. As long as the idiots don't go out of their way and start saying anyone who plays games needs help. However, people who leave their kids without food for days definitely need medical attention :|

Yeah, I agree with Ticman, I don't really think this has anything to do with games, people with addictive personalities would get addicted to something else if games weren't around, be it pokies or gambling or huffing paint or shooting heroin into their eyeballs.

I guess games are just a cheaper and easier thing to get addicted to than some of the alternatives.

well the ladies tell me im addictive so i guess you're onto something farrelly

Hi my name is thundercracker and I'm addicted to gaming.

My guess is that video gaming negatively affects the lives of far more than just 10% of gamers >.<

sports make people addicted to exercise... true story.

1 in 10 ppl also play wow

Addicted to gaming. Who gives a f***? It's not like it's harming anyone.

Would they rather the gamers were addicted to PCP, crack or meth...

If I remember the DSM-IV-R dependence criteria correctly, one of them is that the person has to want to quit, or has to have tried but failed in the past to stop... but that might be superseded if you match a few other criteria.

Addicted to gaming. Who gives a f***? It's not like it's harming anyone. .

Did you read the article? It sort of points out how it is harming people.

The problem is that the study is stating the bleeding obvious, and not actually providing anything new.

Harmed by experiencing restlessness and poor school results hey? I think the researchers have got some larger issues regarding teenage drug and alcohol abuse and sexual behaviour, not to mention domestic violence. Kids will have a better chance in life if they worked on those issues (real issues actually physically damaging children).

I don't really think this has anything to do with games, people with addictive personalities would get addicted to something else if games weren't around, be it pokies or gambling or huffing paint or shooting heroin into their eyeballs.

Things are addictive because of various reasons, people can be better then others at resisting the addiction. It doesn't stop something from being addictive though.

Harmed by experiencing restlessness and poor school results hey? I think the researchers have got some larger issues regarding teenage drug and alcohol abuse and sexual behaviour, not to mention domestic violence. Kids will have a better chance in life if they worked on those issues (real issues actually physically damaging children).

Did you read the article yet? It also points out that some of these addicts are stealing to support their addiction.

Noone is saying "hey, let's ignore child abuse and focus on the REAL problem - kids power-leveling their druid".

The point of it is, I assume, to draw attention to parents that gaming can be a serious problem, and they need to effectively monitor their kids when they're playing video games. You know, they need to actually parent, instead of just dumping their kid in front of a screen.

Kids were neglecting chores and shoplifting before before video games were invented. None of this is particularly startling news.

It just amuses me that we need an endless procession of university studies to demonstrate what is a total no-brainer.

Hey infi, have you seen my sig?

i went for a test ride on my new scooter the other day and the guy said.. ' can you ride' i said.. i'll give it a go..

and i intuitively rode the bike away..

it didnt fail me then...

so now i dont understand your sig

News Just in:
Academics are addicted to recognition of peer groups and have been found to make use of pointless irrelevant facts to validate their arguements.

sorry, I forgot to add "in hope of getting a grant"