Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Qualitative Analysis of Online Gaming Addicts in Treatment

  • Published:
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Online gaming addiction is a relatively under-researched area and there have been few studies examining online gamers in treatment. This paper reports the findings from a qualitative interview study of nine players undergoing treatment for their addictive playing of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs). A face-to-face interview study with nine online gaming addicts was carried out using Grounded Theory. The six most reported phenomena by the participants were: (i) entertainment search, (ii) virtual friendship, (iii) escapism and/or dissociation, (iv) game context, (v) control versus no control, and (vi) conflict. The findings suggest that players’ initial gaming motivation is because of three factors: (i) entertainment, (ii) escapism, and/or (iii) virtual friendship. MMORPG addiction appears once the playing time significantly increases, coupled with a loss of control and a narrow behavior focus. These factors lead to problems and result in psychological dependence and serious life conflicts. The consequences of MMORPG addiction are similar to the consequences of more established substance addictions including salience, mood modification, loss of control, craving, and serious adverse effects. Additionally, in some cases, tolerance and relapse may also be present.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison, S. E., von Wahlde, L., Shockley, T., & Gabbard, G. O. (2006). The development of the self in the era of the Internet and role-playing fantasy games. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 381–385.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beard, K. W. (2005). Internet addiction: a review of current assessment techniques and potential assessment questions. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 8, 7–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bessière, K., Seay, A. F., & Kiesler, S. (2007). The ideal elf: identity exploration in World of Warcraft. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 10, 530–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Block, J. (2007). Pathological computer game use. Psychiatric Times, 24(3). Located at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/display/article/10168/55406?pageNumber=2 (last accessed: 01.10.12).

  • Camí, J., & Farré, M. (2003). Drug addiction. The New England Journal of Medicine, 349, 975–986.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, H., & Griffiths, M. D. (2007). Social interactions in massively multiplayer online role-playing gamers. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 10, 575–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Echeburúa, E., & de Corral, P. (1994). Adicciones psicológicas: Más allá de la metáfora. Clínica y Salud, 5, 251–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, A. (1990). Addiction, definition and implications. British Journal of Addictions, 85, 1403–1408.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. (2000). Does internet and computer “addiction” exist? Some case study evidence. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 3, 211–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D. (2005). A “components” model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10, 191–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D. (2010). The role of context in online gaming excess and addiction: some case study evidence. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8, 119–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D., & Beranuy, M. (2009). Adicción a los videojuegos: Una breve revisión psicológica. Revista de psicoterapia, 73, 33–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D., Davies, M. N. O., & Chappell, D. (2003). Breaking the stereotype: the case of online gaming. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6, 81–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D., Davies, M. N. O., & Chappell, D. (2004a). Online computer gaming: a comparison of adolescent and adult gamers. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 87–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D., Davies, M. N. O., & Chappell, D. (2004b). Demographic factors and playing variables in online computer gaming. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7, 479–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., Griffiths, M. D., & Gradisar, M. (2011). Assessing clinical trials of Internet addiction treatment: a systematic review and CONSORT evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 1110–1116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klimmt, C., Schmid, H., & Orthmann, J. (2009). Exploring the enjoyment of playing browser games. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12, 231–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2012). Online gaming addiction: a systematic review. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 10, 278–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lafrenière, M. A., Vallerand, R. J., Donahue, E. G., & Lavigne, G. L. (2009). On the costs and benefits of gaming: the role of passion. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 12, 285–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, K. D. (2000). Beyond corporeality: the virtual self in postmodern times. Journal of Psychological Practice, 6(1), 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenna, K. Y. A., & Bargh, J. A. (2000). Plan 9 from cyberspace: the implications of the internet for personality and social psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 4(1), 57–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, E. (1998). The self and the Internet: Variations on the illusion of one self. In J. Gackenbach (Ed.), Psychology and the Internet: Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and transpersonal implications (pp. 29–42). San Diego, CA USA: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Carbonell, X. (2000). Conductas Adictivas. In A. Jarne & A. Talarn (Eds.), Manual de psicopatología clínica (pp. 597–632). Barcelona: Fundació Vidal i Barraquer i Ediciones Paidós Ibérica.

  • Sánchez-Carbonell, X., Beranuy, M., Castellana, M., Chamarro, A., & Oberst, U. (2008). La adicción a Internet y al móvil, ¿moda o trastorno? Adicciones, 20(2), 149–160.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, J. (2007). Beyond self-selection in video game play: an experimental examination of the consequences of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game Play. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10, 717–721.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smahel, D., Blinka, L., & Ledabyl, O. (2008). Playing MMORPGs: connections between addiction and identifying with a character. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11, 715–718.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talarn, A., & Carbonell, X. (2009). Algunas reflexiones a propósito de los juegos (y los jugadores) de rol online. Identidad y adicción. Revista de Psicoterapia, 19(73), 51–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turkle, S. (1997). Multiple subjectivity and virtual community at the end of the end of the Freudian century. Sociological Inquiry, 67, 72–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, C., & Chiou, W. (2006a). Psychological motives and online games addiction: a test of flow theory and humanistic needs theory for Taiwanese adolescents. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9, 317–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, C., & Chiou, B. (2006b). Why are adolescents addicted to online gaming? An Interview Study in Taiwan. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 9, 762–766.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Washton, A. M., & Boundy, D. (1990). Willpower’s not enough: Understanding and overcoming addiction and compulsion. New York: Harper Trade.

    Google Scholar 

  • Widyanto, L., & Griffiths, M. D. (2006). Internet addiction: a critical review. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 4, 31–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. T. A., Griffiths, M. D., & Parke, A. (2007). Experiences of time loss among videogame players: an empirical study. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10, 45–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Josep Cañete and Àngels González (Hospital of Mataró, Spain), Rosa Díaz (Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Spain), Susanna Petri and Núria Aragay (Hospital of Terrassa, Spain) and Felix Cova and Maruzella Valdivia (Clínica de Atención Psicológica of University of Concepción, Chile).

Source

Part of this study was carried out thanks to grant no. AP2005-2426 (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spanish Government) and FPCCE Blanquerna grant no. CER05/08-105C06.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain

    Marta Beranuy & Xavier Carbonell

  2. Department of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

    Mark D. Griffiths

  3. Facultat de Psicologia, Ciències de l’Educació i de l’Esport Blanquerna, C/Císter, 34, 08022, Barcelona, Spain

    Xavier Carbonell

Authors
  1. Marta Beranuy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xavier Carbonell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mark D. Griffiths
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xavier Carbonell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beranuy, M., Carbonell, X. & Griffiths, M.D. A Qualitative Analysis of Online Gaming Addicts in Treatment. Int J Ment Health Addiction 11, 149–161 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-012-9405-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-012-9405-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation