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The purpose of this project is to identify

the causes and effects regarding video


game addiction and its issues. This
project has been done by interviewing
such gamers and researching issues
through the internet. By stating its
analysis by the project, this should
highlight of how serious this problem is.

Video
Game
Addiction
Jeremy Ang
Janlerey Atencio
Raphael Chicombing
Mark Tan
Jason Villa
VIDEO GAME ADDICTION

I.] CONTEXT: VIDEO GAME ADDICTION

Video game addiction is an excessive use of computer games or video games that interferes a
persons life. Video games isnt only limited to video games as well, but it also involves media and internet
addiction. The usual persons that are addicted to video games are kids and teenagers. The reason for
this is that children tend to have more curiosity compared to the adults who have huge age experiences
towards life. Teenagers take a lot of risks. In some ways, they are hard-wired for adventure-seeking, but
could some of the risk-taking be a result of too much time playing video games or watching television?
This addiction presents countless problems that could affect the person/users life if this addiction is not
controlled or well maintained. If assumed that more than 50% of the users are addicted to it, then the
world could present itself a problem that could affect the society and the people. A good example of a
problem would be a relationship of a particular video gamer towards his/her friends, colleagues, family
and etc. According to a report published online in the journal Psychological Bulletin, video games and
other media that depict risk-taking increase the likelihood that people will take dangerous risks in their
real lives.

Some of the risks video games commonly glorify are:

-Substance abuse

-Reckless driving

-Gambling

-Risky sexual behavior

Boys exhibited a greater number of addictive symptoms than girls. Boys tended to exhibit two
or more of the 11 symptoms, while girls were more likely to show two or fewer. In addition to the
symptoms listed above, other symptoms of gaming addiction exhibited by youth who played video
games includes excessive thinking about playing games, excessive planning for the next opportunity
to play, trying to play less and failing to do so, becoming restless or irritable when trying to play less
or stop playing, lying about how much they play, and stealing a game or stealing money to buy a game.
GAMER DEMOGRAPHICS: AGE AND GENDER

AGE OF GAMERS: SALES OF VIDEO GAMES COMPARED T O YOUTH VIOLENCE

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE G AMES ARE THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE COMMITED BY MENTALLY
UNSTABLE PEOPLE

According to survey, half of games that are most frequently played are violent games that can
influence a persons mind. Others can cause addiction. Violent games include Halo3, Madden, and
Grand Theft Auto 3 which gives the player the ability to kill people.
SCHOOL VIOLENCE DUE TO GAMES WITH WOMEN

Problem Types of Overall Percentage of Percentage of


percentage of Non- M gamers
Area behavior girls in behavior M-gamers

A.) Aggression *been in a physical *20.9% *40% *14%


and bullying fight
*34.5%
*hit or beat up
someone *49% *29%

*took part in *4.4%


bullying another
student *6% *6%

B.)Delinquent *Damaged *7.9%% *15% *5%


property just for
Behaviors fun

*Got into trouble *1.8% *2% *2%


with the police

*stole something
from a store *9.8% *14% *8%

C.) School *Got poor grades *23.7% *37% *20%


on a report card
Problems *10.8% *20% *7%
*Skipped classes
without an excuse

*Got into trouble *35.5% *49% *31%


with teacher or
principal

*Got suspended *8.4% *16% *5%


from school

D.) Victimization *Been threatened *9.0% *14% *7%


or injured with a
weapon

*Been bullied at *6.9% *8% *6%


school
CASE ISSUE

Gaming addiction can cause serious issues to the user. Complications can range from life
withdrawal to bullying and personality changes. Worse case scenario is potential crime actions due to
these violent games. Some games that can cause this are Grand Theft Auto which gives the player the
ability to kill people. This can result in serious problems in mentally unstable people . Another game which
caused addiction in the entire Philippines is DOTA 2, a MOBA which many Philippine players played.

DOTA 2 have been a reason in two accidental murder


due to interruption in playing the said game. One case is from a
16 year old filipino who was interrupted in playing the game by
his grandmother. The grandmother kept scolding the 16 year old
due to his addiction in playing the game and she forcefully pulled
her out of the internet cafe. The teenager who was angry not only
because of being forced out of the game but also embarrassed
since he was in front of his peers. He became enraged and beat
up the old lady to death.

This example shows the different problems concerning the persons addiction to the game. This
not only causes the person to escape reality but causes the addict to change his life. Some addicts quit
their job just to focus on a game. Some even steal just to sustain his addiction. The addict basically lost his
dignity and quit the potential to live a meaningful life. People concerned with the addict are also
affected as it is like depression. It can not only affect the person mentally but physically as well.

II.] ANALYSIS

ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

According to a survey by Professor Douglas Gentile, many of the game addicts resort to video
games to escape problems in real life. They forget everything regarding life which includes school and
work just to play computer games to escape reality. Research also shows that gaming addiction also
elevates dopamine like gmabling. There is a psychological component to the addiction knowing I can
escape or feel good about my life.

Gaming addiction according to Prof Gentile is like a drug where they use games as an outlet to
escape problems. However, too much addiction occurs when games obstruct your life and when games
cause crimes of theft and murder.

Some symptoms include:

*Preoccupation: focuses on gaming without regards to studies and work

*Tolerance- like drugs become so addicted to feel good


*Loss of Control- he is unable to stop

*Withdrawal- when unable to play becomes depressed

*Crime- turns to crime to finance their addiction and influence them

*Social Harm- the person becomes an outcast and becomes breaks

Relationship with friends.

Such addiction causes the user to lose his ability to reason when not with games and loses the
prospect future of his life.

BIBLE

The Bible says nothing directly about video games. But still video games has some parts that are
related to the Bible. These video games has a specific topic on them in which it can relate to the Bible
and could affect the influence the person playing it. Some examples of these topics are devils, angels,
demons, religion violence, sex, murder and etc. Examples of these verses could relate somehow to
some specific topics:

Genocide: In 1 Samuel 15:1-3, God commands his people, the Israelites, to utterly wipe out an entire
nation, killing not only all of their men, but all of their women, children, and babies . . . and even their
livestock.

Gang rape and murder: In Judges 19:20-28 local ruffians rape to death the wife of a traveler who is
staying overnight at one of the houses in their town.

Dismemberment: At the end of the same story, in Judges 19:29-30, the womans husband cuts her dead
body into twelve pieces and sends one piece to each of the tribes of Israel as a rallying cry to war
against those who had raped and murdered his wife.

Attempted homosexual gang rape: In an earlier story in Genesis 19:1-11, all the men in the city of Sodom
rush the house where two angel visitors are staying, intending to rape them. Incidentally, before the
angels themselves put a stop to the whole horrid scene, their host offers the would-be rapists his own
two virgin daughters in place of his angel guests.

Incest: In Genesis 38, Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the patriarch of the tribe of Judah,
sleeps with his own daughter-in-law thinking she is a local prostitute, and fathers two of his three surviving
sons through the union.

War, adultery, deceit, and murder: In 2 Samuel 11, while David, the famous warrior king of Israel, has his
troops out killing and conquering their enemies, David sleeps with the wife of one of his soldiers and gets
her pregnant. Unable to induce her husband to sleep with her in order to cover his tracks, David
arranges for the soldier to be killed in battle, then takes the dead soldiers wife for himself.
III.] PLAN OF ACTION

The sure fire way to prevent any kind of addiction is of course awareness and education, knowing the
effects and every detail that comes with the addiction can help prevent it. Another doable way would
be reaching out to the person, knowing the cause as to why the addiction started in the first place, since
addiction could be a way for the person to escape his/her problems especially with teens. Confronting
and guiding them through the addiction can help, cause just like smoking, quitting aint easy. Creating
another output for the addicted to redirect their time and attention such as hiking or any other recreation
that could help them in any way.

COLLECTIVE ACTIONS OF EACH MEMBER OF GRO UP

JEREMY LAWRENCE ANG

In my personal opinion, video game addiction can be prevented thru actions


of self-discipline and control. Putting a time sched for each person is necessary and
separating the place of work and gaming is necessary. The reason for this is because
one can be tempted on playing when his/her working place is the same with the
gaming place. For me, hosting social activities is a must to allow healthy relationships
and destroying addiction.

JANLEREY ATENCIO

For me, doing choirs can help in distracting oneself with game addiction. By
knowing ones responsibilities, we can focus more on taking care for ourselves and
also by setting goals in chores, we can motivate ourselves as well. I also want to
practice my course in Architecture and make it my hobby to allow myself to improve
and avoiding games that are so addicting.

RAPHAEL CHICOMBING
I can prevent game addiction by setting time limits and whatever it is that is
distracting, I will place it in a public area for others to monitor the actions of the one
who is playing. I can ensure that the computer or any video game is against the wall
and facing out into the room where you can see the monitor, to allow adults to
supervise.

MARK PRUEL TAN

Game Addiction can be prevented, in a sense, by making the person earn


that said game. I can do a 3 for 1 exchange on video games. For example,for every
three hours you read or do something positive for your brain, you get one hour of video
game time. Or I can tie the screen time to doing chores.

JASON VILLA

In my sincere opinion, though extreme, we can prevent it by taking away


the source or cause of the addiction. For me, if setting limits doesnt work, then its
better to take it away. Explaining to them that this whatever it is has become too
important in their life. I can tell them that they need to realize that they could actually
live without it if they had to. Then I can decide how long they should go without it for
to rehabilitate.

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