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The Impact of Online Games such as World of Warcraft on Today’s YouthBryan Welsh-MorganUniversity of Ontario Institute of TechnologyThe Impact of Online Games such as World of Warcraft on Today’s YouthIntroductionAddiction as defined by the Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology is “[a] wide spectrum of complex behaviors that arises from dependence on drugs or participation in some other activity.” This paper intends to look at the effect of online gaming on teens in regards to health, social life, and academic performance. The media along with academic sources have all conducted research as to the effects video games have on youth, all basically saying the same thing, that video games are addictive to those in certain situations. The type of game this paper specifically looks at is known as an MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). The most popular in this genre being Blizzard’s World of Warcraft hereafter referred to as WoW. WoW boasts an astonishing 11 million active subscriptions, meaning 11 million teens, youth, adults, and children playing and paying for this game. The game allows players to create a “toon,” as those who play the game like to call them. Then allows the players to interact with each other and perform tasks and quests to level up and acquire better equipment and gold, which can be used to buy more equipment. In connection to addiction, it’s the feeling of community in the game that keeps players coming back. In addition there are constant updates with new quests, dungeons, enemies, and of course cool stuff to put on your character. This falls perfectly into the realm of addiction and sets a number of players up for a substantial loss in their quality of life. The following pages intend to show how the overuse of online games such as WoW can have serious ramifications in regards to the player’s health, social life, and academic performance. Research QuestionsWhen researching this topic, important questions had to be asked first, such as: is it possible for a game to be addictive? If so, what are the possible complications with this in regards to health, social life, and academic performance? As well as asking if addiction to gaming can be as severe as some involving drugs or alcohol.MethodologyTo gather this information the UOIT access to online databases such as EBSCO host was utilized. These databases allowed access to full text documents from news sources and journal articles, all of which allow further analysis of the subject. This, along with some personal experience with video games and WoW, specifically gave this paper two different perspectives on this topic; this makes it a more reliable analysis on the possible addictive nature of online games.AddictionAs mentioned above, addiction is “a wide spectrum of complex behaviors that arises from dependence on drugs or participation in some other activity.” Video games can be very addictive, and this is recognized by many in the academic community as well as by a large number of the general population; however, APA (American Psychological Association) does not recognize it as an addiction (Geranios, 2009). This leaves those suffering with video fame addiction with next to no help other than the help they receive from family and friends. The media and academic community both seem to agree that this addiction can be as severe as drug or alcohol addictions. The Guelph Mercury reports that approximately 90% of teens play video games, and about 15% will show signs of being severely addicted. These numbers speak for themselves, online and video game addiction is a huge problem for today’s youthPresence in the MediaThe media has had many “field days” with the topic of video game addiction, most recently when Brandon Crisp of Barrie Ontario ran away from home after his parents took away his Microsoft XBOX. This reaction is a textbook example of addiction. The Hamilton spectator reports on this story saying that children who play these games run a risk of developing severe attachments to the online society. Brandon Crisp is one of the more tragic examples of addiction to video games, as he was found dead after a fall from a tree 3 weeks after his running away from home. This addiction cost this teen his life. Drug addictions have been known to cost people their families, friends, jobs, academic careers and in some cases even their lives. Brandon Crisps’ story shows that addictions to video games can be just as severe as any other addiction. There are also very few options for treatment for these individuals as the addiction is not recognized by any major association, however The Waterloo Region Record reports that in a suburb of Seattle a “rehab” center for those with internet addictions has opened. Due to the fact that video game addiction is not recognized by either the APA or AMA(American Medical Association) (N.A., 2007) there is not coverage for such programs resulting in prices as high as $14,000 US dollars for a 40day program(Geranios, 2009). Many people cannot afford such a cost, and without coverage this system is almost useless to the average gamer.Understanding the AddictionIn order to gain a full understanding of how an online game can be so addictive and how destructive the addiction can be, you have to understand what causes the addiction. According to Bessière, Seay, & Kiesler (2007), the type of avatar (character) creation used in the software allows players to create forms of their own personality, however, these characters are not representations of who the player is, they are representations of how the player sees their ideal self image, in simple terms they are what the player wishes they were. These characters have the personality traits that the player sees themselves in lacking. This increases the player’s emotional attachment to the character making it harder to stop playing the game. Bessière, et al. (2007) says that the players who display depressive traits get more attached to the character and the game as it is a way for them to escape reality and be who they ideally wish they could be. Addiction to online video games is a worldwide problem not just a problem in North America, according to Young (2009), studies involving this type of addiction have been occurring worldwide in countries such as Italy, Pakistan, and the Czech Republic. Young also supports the theory that the emotional attachment to the avatar is the main cause for addiction, and adds that it’s not only the avatars the player creates but also the sense of friendship and community these games create amongst the players. Young (2009) also states that younger players become absorbed in their online character and begin to rely on them to get through emotional problems they may be having. This can be dangerous because if you remove this game they have no other way to cope with things in their real life. This can lead to further depression and quite possibly suicide.Evidence and Effects of AddictionThere are no set criteria to establish if someone is suffering from internet addiction, and many question if it’s even possible. However there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that it is. Parents can see the changes in their children and wives can see the changes in their husbands, and so on. People, particularly youth, display drastic changes in their behavior, such as withdrawal from activities, friends, and family (Hart, G., Johnson, B., Stamm, B., Angers, N., Robinson, A., Lally, T. 2009).. Health problems can also be associated with these addictions as many stay indoors for hours on end playing these games, as well as staying up for the whole night instead of sleeping. All of this can create serious health and mental health issues for the addict (Grüsser, S., Thalemann, R., & Griffiths, M. 2007). In ConclusionOnline gaming has a drastic effect on today’s youth, and can be dangerous for those who let it get out of control, or have no parental guidance in regards to when and how long they can play. The research available on the subject all supports the same conclusion, and all argue the same facts. There is a problem, and the APA and AMA need to recognize this so those affected can receive proper diagnosis, as well as proper treatment. People have lost their lives to online games such as WoW, however that doesn’t mean to say that the game is the problem entirely. As the research shows, its more the situation the player is in.ReferencesAMA (2007). AMA does not endorse video game "addiction". Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 23(9), 2. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.Addiction. (2001). In B. Strickland (Ed.)The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, (2nd ed., pp. 675-686) Detroit: Gale Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Gale Virtual Reference Library via Gale: ère, K., Seay, A., & Kiesler, S. (2007). The Ideal Elf: Identity Exploration in World of Warcraft. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(4), 530-535. doi:10.1089/cpb.2007.9994.Burgmann, T.? (2008,?October?28). Video game addiction; Compulsive gamers build strong emotional attachments to online world.?The Spectator,G.7.? Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Canadian Newsstand Torstar. (Document ID:?1583892681).Geranios, N.? (2009,?September?5). Addicted to the internet.?Waterloo Region Record,E.2.? Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Canadian Newsstand Torstar. (Document ID:?1853657551)Grüsser, S., Thalemann, R., & Griffiths, M. (2007). Excessive Computer Game Playing: Evidence for Addiction and Aggression?. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(2), 290-292. doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9956.Hart, G., Johnson, B., Stamm, B., Angers, N., Robinson, A., Lally, T. (2009). Effects of Video Games on Adolescents and Adults. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12(1), 63-65. doi:10.1089/cpb.2008.0117.Video game addiction a psychiatric disorder: report?:[Final Edition].?(2007,?June?23). The Guelph Mercury,p.?C8.? Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Canadian Newsstand Torstar. (Document ID:?1293543761).Young, K. (2009). Understanding Online Gaming Addiction and Treatment Issues for Adolescents. American Journal of Family Therapy, 37(5), 355-372. doi:10.1080/01926180902942191. ................
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