Virtual Addiction: Is Internet Gaming Addiction Fact or Fantasy?

• In Event: Neurosocieties: Interdisciplinary Explorations of the Brain, Culture and Ethics 2

Abstract

'Internet Gaming Addiction' is one of the most problematic psychiatric disorders to be recently proposed. In this conceptual analysis I have combined economic theory with current research in Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and Philosophical work in the area. Presented is a Neureconomic and Picoeconomic account of addiction centred on Disordered and Addictive Gambling. I then apply this theory to the evidence presented for the proposed disorder. I argue that the broad conception of all videogaming as socially undesirable and addictive is incorrect and damaging, and that analysis from a STS perspective is well placed to make this critique.

The wide scope of games and gamers can confound our understanding of the complexities of gaming. Current research into disordered gaming fails to reflect, understand or account for this diversity; the narrative of addiction provided by the psychosciences encourages gamers to self-define as disordered – both individually and as a community.

I argue that by pathologising game-playing, the psychosciences are in part complicit in subjective social judgement of a particular leisure activity enjoyed by many millions of people of all walks of life, and forming an important part of the personal and social identity of many. This is contributing to the problematic framing of such behaviour as disordered. This has direct implications for the conceptual understanding of problematic gaming in Psychiatry; for clinical treatment of those presenting with problematic gaming behaviour; and more broadly for game player’s self conception.

Author

• Gemma Lucy Smart, University of Sydney