Today there is no one who does not know what a computer game is. Experts note that the history of computer games is a little over half a century – the first of them appeared in the distant 50s. By definition, a computer game is a program that serves to organize the gameplay, communication with game partners and / or is a partner. It is not uncommon for such games to be based on books and movies. And since 2011, computer games have been officially recognized in the United States as a separate art form.
Many world-famous corporations are involved in the production of computer games. A growing number of adults and children play computer games. Experts assure that one or two hours of computer games a week can’t cause any damage to a person’s psyche. But it’s not that simple. The virtual world takes over a person, and he loses the desire to communicate with his friends and family. The child gets used to communicating at a distance and eventually begins to avoid verbal communication. In the world there are known fatal cases (mostly among minors) after hours or hours of playing games. German researchers consider game addiction to be as serious a disease as drug and alcohol addiction. The World Health Organization has listed gaming addiction in the International Classification of Diseases ICD-11 (ICD-11).
ICD-11 is the world’s standard methodology for collecting data on mortality and morbidity, otherwise known as the classifier of diseases. This classification is used in more than a hundred countries. The classifier was adopted in 1990, so now experts are reviewing it taking into account new discoveries in medicine.
What is a computer game addiction
Game addiction is a form of addiction that manifests itself through a compulsive fascination with computer games and video games. Particularly quickly formed an addiction in cases where through the game man seeks to solve their psychological problems.
For example, a computer game makes it possible to feel like a completely different person, not as in real life. By playing, the child can show such emotions that he/she is not allowed to express in real life. For example, it is possible to show aggression and anger. The computer game allows you to forget about the anxiety and escape into a virtual world where everything is different. Specialists assure that the virtual world is experienced by the child as quite real. The strongest addiction cause network games. Specialists psychologists know the case, when the online game has fatal consequences.
Psychologists and psychotherapists are alarmed that more and more children are becoming addicted to computer games. Especially strong in recent years, game addiction is progressing among adolescents. Seemingly innocuous game on the computer, today has become such a threatening scale that experts are seriously afraid of the consequences of such a mass hobby game. Many of them point out that the fight against game addiction is very difficult.
Currently, a lot of research in psychology is carried out to determine the reasons why computer games take over the minds of children.
Among the main reasons why children can develop a game addiction, experts note the following:
Lack of real communication with parents and peers. Most often with this problem faced by children and adolescents whose parents are very busy at work and give them little attention. Or on the contrary, overprotective of their children. If a child does not have enough real communication, he begins to look for communication in the virtual world.
A monotonous and boring life. If there aren’t enough bright and memorable moments in a child’s life, he tries to get positive emotions in a computer game.
The child’s personality is insufficiently formed. Often teenagers are not ready to enter adulthood. They do not want to accept it with all the duties and responsibilities. So they withdraw from reality in the virtual world.
A variety of fears and phobias. Sometimes an increased interest in computer games conceals insecurity and fear of interpersonal relationships. Such people are often not flexible enough, they have difficulty adapting to the outside world. The world of the computer game replaces reality, which frightens the child. The child feels more comfortable in the game.
Conflicts within the family can also cause children to develop a game addiction. When there are problems in the relationship with parents, the child wants to escape from them to another reality where no one will judge him.
Often the departure into the world of computer games is explained by the child’s desire to avoid real life problems. The teenager may assert that the game helps him remove stress, to escape from problems in his studies.
The presence of pathological personality traits, capable of leading to prolonged stress in adverse conditions. Such children are more prone to all kinds of addictions.
Researchers assure that the most dangerous are role-playing games. The child, playing, identifies with the character. He loses his personality. And the more the child is immersed in an imaginary world, the more he loses touch with the real world. Gradually the child begins to live entirely in the imaginary world, where he can easily find everything he needs. In the computer world, it is possible to be anything, to communicate without shyness, to experience vivid emotions. The more the child is playing, the less he cares about the events that occur in reality.
How to determine the game addiction in children?
Game addiction – it is a painful craving begins to develop with the usual harmless fascination with computer games.
Today it is difficult to find a schoolboy who would not be able to use the computer or mobile devices. Children spend a lot of time online. They communicate with each other, play and learn. Therefore, it is difficult for parents and teachers to determine whether a child has a game addiction. Specialists suggest adults to focus on the following signs:
The child with great difficulty can be distracted from the computer game.
If he is still forced to be distracted, the child is very irritated.
Being at the computer, the child experiences an emotional high.
The child is unable to independently regulate the time spent at the computer.
While playing, the child forgets about household chores, studies, scheduled meetings.
The child asks his parents for more and more material investments to upgrade the computer hardware. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that in case of refusal the child may try to extract material resources illegally.
The child begins to neglect sleep, personal hygiene, even health in favor of the computer game.
The child forgets to eat, refuses to eat with everyone else. Prefers to snack right behind the computer monitor.
The child is constantly discussing the game with anyone who is willing to listen to him.
Addiction to computer games significantly affects the physical health of the child. Parents may notice the following symptoms:
visual disturbances, dry eyes;
headaches;
changes in sleep patterns, sleep disorders;
digestive disorders due to irregular and improper nutrition;
frequent back pain caused by sitting for long periods of time;
posture problems;
decreased immunity;
constant feeling of fatigue;
tunnel syndrome – lesion of nerve trunks in the wrist area (such disorder occurs due to uncomfortable working conditions with the mouse and keyboard and prolonged muscle strain).
Of course, the actual psychological symptoms of game addiction are not as clearly visible as the physiological ones. Children themselves may not notice how much time they spend playing. Individuals with game addiction have the following personality traits:
High “social boldness” – risk-taking tendency, disinhibition, abnormal behavior style;
“susceptibility to feelings” – tendency to inconstancy, susceptibility to the influence of chance and circumstances, reduction of compliance with generally accepted norms and prohibitions in behavior and interpersonal contacts;
“expressiveness” – emotional disorientation of thinking, spontaneous belief in luck;
“tension” – active dissatisfaction of aspirations;
“instability of self-control” – conflicting ideas about oneself; inadequate self-esteem (regardless of the age group).
Stages and consequences of computer games addiction
Obviously, not all children who play computer games have a game addiction. Experts divide all players into several categories:
Situational players.
These are children who play at the computer in the presence of appropriate conditions: free time, in a competitive situation. Thus there is no interest if there are no external stimuli to game.
Children who play occasionally.
They play from time to time, however, are not able to control the time spent at the computer independently.
Children who play systematically.
Guys are seriously into computer games, but they also understand that they neglect their responsibilities and feel remorse.
Gamblers.
For such children, the game becomes the meaning of life, it occupies all of the child’s free time. If for some period of time the child can’t play, he/she still mentally plans the game. All the duties and activities that the child does not perform in real life do not bother him. On the contrary, he tends to play more and more.
The formation of game addiction occurs in several stages:
The first stage is characterized by a mild fascination with the game. The child adapts to the game.
In the second stage, addiction develops rapidly. The child has a strong desire to play. He spends more and more time behind the computer monitor. But at this stage the child can still refuse to play in favor of other activities.
The third stage is the stage of dependence, i.e. dependence reaches the maximal level. It is more and more difficult for the child to refuse to play. He spends all his free time at the computer, he can’t stop playing independently.
The fourth stage of attachment is characterized by the fact that the force of addiction remains stable. The game becomes the meaning of the player’s life. The child can no longer cope with a desire to play. The goal of the game becomes the process of playing, instead of the passage of certain levels. The intervals between games are minimized as much as possible. The child is constantly immersed in game fantasies.
Of course, the formed game addiction entails a series of negative consequences:
The child has frequent and prolonged conflicts with teachers and parents;
Children suffering from game addiction lose friends;
Children lose their social status;
The child’s personality gradually degrades.
Prevention of Game Addiction in Children
Psychologists assure that it is easier to prevent game addiction than to deal with its consequences. Therefore, adults should focus on the prevention of play addiction in children. First of all, this requires a child to establish a relationship of trust. It is desirable that he or she could feel free to express their experiences without fear of being judged.
In addition, adults should discreetly control the amount of time the child spends at the computer. It is important that the child should have a real hobby not related to the computer. For example, music, painting or sports can be encouraged.
Adults should remember that the producers of computer games are interested in getting as many people as possible to play them. Therefore, it is important to exercise timely control over the content of the game. Without such censorship no game should fall into the hands of a child. Before allowing children to play, adults should try out the game themselves. It is important to understand, whether the game will bring real benefit to the child, whether it does not contain scenes of violence, whether it does not provoke to display aggressive behavior. Adults should pay attention to the following points:
A computer game should develop the child’s abilities.
The game should not contain swear words.
The game should not form a cynical attitude towards reality.
The game should not contain aggressive information.
The game should not be addictive to pain or dramatic situations.
The game should not teach the child wrongful acts.
The outer appearance of the characters in the game should not be scary.
The game should not contain sexual themes.
Movies and TV programs watched by children should be censored in the same way. It is desirable that the child is so busy with household chores, studies and hobbies in real life, that he simply will not have time to play on the computer. It is important to remember the following rules:
For children 7-12 years old, the norm of time they spend at the computer is 30 minutes a day, no more than once every two days.
Teenagers aged 12-14 can spend 1 hour a day at the computer.
From 14 to 17 years old the maximum time a child may spend at a computer is 1.5 hours a day.
It is undesirable for adults to work at a computer for more than 5 hours a day.
It is necessary to have a day off once a week when a person does not sit down at the computer at all.
In order to prevent the development of game addiction, parents should familiarize the child with the time norms of work at the computer. At the same time it is important to encourage him/her in various sections and hobby groups, to involve him/her in household chores. Parents should monitor the child’s social circle and invite his friends to visit. It is desirable to be aware of how the child spends his free time outside the home. It is worthwhile to teach your child the rules of communication with people, expand his horizons, and help him establish relationships with his classmates.
Parents should regularly censor computer games. It is worth to draw the child’s attention to board games, to teach him moving games. The child should not be allowed to be on the Internet uncontrolled. You can install a program on your computer that will block information of certain content.
Parents should discuss with their children the negative phenomena of life, to develop a negative stable attitude toward evil. It is worth remembering that the main model of behavior for children is an adult from their immediate environment. Therefore parents should get rid of their negative habits themselves. If certain rules are established in the family or class, they should also apply to adults. Parents and teachers must never do what they forbid their children to do themselves.
If parents have realized that their child is already suffering from a play addiction, it is worth to immediately contact a specialist for help. Do not berate the child, throw tantrums or show aggression. A total ban on access to the computer also does not solve the problem. Today, experts have a wide range of methods to combat game addiction. Parents should understand that without the involvement of a specialist, the problem cannot be solved. The best thing you can do is to contact a psychologist. A specialist will draw up a psychological portrait of the child and choose the best tactics for the therapy of addictive behavior. It is important to identify the real reasons that the child has developed a game addiction and to fight with them. Parents should understand that game addiction therapy is a long-term process. Success is impossible to achieve if the adults themselves will not follow the advice of a specialist and do not change their behavior. Together with a psychologist, the family returns the child to the real world, spends a lot of time together, finds common interests, establishes communication and solves interpersonal problems.
