Compulsive gamers not addicts

Posted by Tanya Hall

November 25, 2008

Do you often receive an ear blast for spending too much time with a gaming control in your hand? Chances are the family and the girlfriend have given you some grief for choosing to spend 2 hours a day maneuvering a 3D gunner around a city.

Well it’s time to hit back at the accusations that you’re an “addict” as research from The Smith & Jones Centre in Amsterdam says that 90 per cent of young people who seek treatment for compulsive computer gaming are not actually addicted.

The Centre is Europe’s first and only clinic to treat gaming addicts and opened in 2006. It has recently realised that compulsive gaming is a social rather than a psychological problem.

Keith Bakker, founder of the Centre, said, “the more we work with these kids the less I believe we can call this addiction. What many of these kids need is their parents and their school teachers – this is a social problem.”

In response to this realisation the clinic has altered its treatment programme for “addicted” gamers to focus more on developing activity-based social and communications skills in an effort to help them rejoin society.

By offering compulsive gamers a place where they feel accepted and where they can be heard, the Centre has found that the majority have been able to leave gaming behind and rebuild their lives.

Source: BBC News

Gadget Gift Ideas

If you like what you’re reading then learn more about joining our FREE newsletter here. Lucky readers will win some fantastic gadget prizes!

Also, check out our recession busting gadgety money saving ideas.