Comments on: The AMA, DSM-IV, and Video Games http://edugamesresearch.com/blog/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/ Research and discussion concerning instructional video games Wed, 16 May 2012 10:13:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Video Games » The AMA, DSM-IV, and Video Games http://edugamesresearch.com/blog/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Video Games » The AMA, DSM-IV, and Video Games Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:54:25 +0000 http://edugamesblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/#comment-45 [...] wrote an interesting post today ... Here’s a quick excerptI recognized some of the references, particularly Anderson and Bushman’s (2001) meta-analysis of studies on the effects of violent video games on behavior. Plenty of other references in the document should prove to be of high interest … [...] [...] wrote an interesting post today … Here’s a quick excerptI recognized some of the references, particularly Anderson and Bushman’s (2001) meta-analysis of studies on the effects of violent video games on behavior. Plenty of other references in the document should prove to be of high interest … [...]

]]> By: Clara C. http://edugamesresearch.com/blog/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Clara C. Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:02:57 +0000 http://edugamesblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/#comment-44 <strong>Mental Health</strong> Good read. Mental Health

Good read.

]]> By: UCLA Study to Tackle Gambling, Online Gaming « Educational Games Blog http://edugamesresearch.com/blog/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/comment-page-1/#comment-43 UCLA Study to Tackle Gambling, Online Gaming « Educational Games Blog Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:28:56 +0000 http://edugamesblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/#comment-43 [...] ones’ life should be termed “overuse.” When the Council on Science and Public Health (CSPH) presented its report to the AMA on research in violence and video games, the term video game “overuse” [...] [...] ones’ life should be termed “overuse.” When the Council on Science and Public Health (CSPH) presented its report to the AMA on research in violence and video games, the term video game “overuse” [...]

]]> By: The APA and Video Game “Addiction” « Educational Games Blog http://edugamesresearch.com/blog/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/comment-page-1/#comment-42 The APA and Video Game “Addiction” « Educational Games Blog Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:35:13 +0000 http://edugamesblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/#comment-42 [...] “addiction” (what I prefer to call overuse) should be classified as a psychiatric disorder. Recall that the AMA set up a subcommittee to study the research on video game overuse last year, and the [...] [...] “addiction” (what I prefer to call overuse) should be classified as a psychiatric disorder. Recall that the AMA set up a subcommittee to study the research on video game overuse last year, and the [...]

]]> By: John Rice http://edugamesresearch.com/blog/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/comment-page-1/#comment-41 John Rice Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:31:40 +0000 http://edugamesblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/#comment-41 Janarius, thanks for the tip on Clark. I'm always interested in video game research. I know what Skinner had to say about intermittent reinforcement, and how that helps explain gambling addiction. I also know it has been used to explain superstitions such as baseball players wearing lucky socks, etc., etc. If a ball player gets one hit out 4 times at bat, he can chalk it up to his lucky socks due to intermittent reinforcement. However, I'm still not sure addiction is the correct term for video game overuse ... it sounds more like a compulsion. I still think of addictions in terms of chemical dependencies. Now, as to your comments on electronic communications, I agree the whole anonymity thing is slightly different from RL socializing. But, folks can and do have different "identities" when they are out on the town, or in different towns. The whole ad campaign for Vegas revolves around this point. So at some point, the analogy falls flat. Your point on non-verbal interactions does point out a difference in communications, but it is a difference long seen in letter writing. I'm not sure it necessitates a new form of addiction classification. Same with your point on time ... I agree modern communications have sped up, but I'm not sure that just because they have sped up they have contributed excessively to addictions, as they are here defined. I would say overuse of modern communications can be a problem that was perhaps less prevalent back in the old days .. but recall that even in the 19th century, major European cities had very efficient postal systems. I think London had mail delivery something like 6 times a day. Thanks for your comments! I appreciated reading them as well as some of your blog entries. This is a good discussion. JR Janarius, thanks for the tip on Clark. I’m always interested in video game research.
I know what Skinner had to say about intermittent reinforcement, and how that helps explain gambling addiction. I also know it has been used to explain superstitions such as baseball players wearing lucky socks, etc., etc. If a ball player gets one hit out 4 times at bat, he can chalk it up to his lucky socks due to intermittent reinforcement.
However, I’m still not sure addiction is the correct term for video game overuse … it sounds more like a compulsion. I still think of addictions in terms of chemical dependencies.
Now, as to your comments on electronic communications, I agree the whole anonymity thing is slightly different from RL socializing. But, folks can and do have different “identities” when they are out on the town, or in different towns. The whole ad campaign for Vegas revolves around this point. So at some point, the analogy falls flat.
Your point on non-verbal interactions does point out a difference in communications, but it is a difference long seen in letter writing. I’m not sure it necessitates a new form of addiction classification. Same with your point on time … I agree modern communications have sped up, but I’m not sure that just because they have sped up they have contributed excessively to addictions, as they are here defined. I would say overuse of modern communications can be a problem that was perhaps less prevalent back in the old days .. but recall that even in the 19th century, major European cities had very efficient postal systems. I think London had mail delivery something like 6 times a day.
Thanks for your comments! I appreciated reading them as well as some of your blog entries. This is a good discussion.
JR

]]> By: janarius http://edugamesresearch.com/blog/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/comment-page-1/#comment-40 janarius Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:07:35 +0000 http://edugamesblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/the-ama-dsm-iv-and-video-games/#comment-40 I'd like you to visit neilsclark.com, he's someone who researches on online video game addiction and has his opinion on the AMA piece. IMO, I think that you are right that it should be specific rather than the blanket term of internet addiction or video game addiction. But there are plenty of anectodal evidence that there is addiction to video games besides the social nature of MMORPGs like levelling up grinding or variable ratio schedule of reinforcement. It should also be noted that the criteria are mostly copied from gambling addiction. There are conflicting evidence as the social affect of the internet. Dimitri Williams, if I recall, said that it can amplify one's personality disposition as in extroverts go more extrovert and introverts go more introvert. But other studies suggest otherwise, so it's not clear. And electronic social interactions are very different from face-to-face, plenty of studies there. First, the user can easily manipulate their identity, so a person can become someone they want, a better life than real life. Second, you don't see the face of the other person so you don't see non-verbal responses which is important in conversations. Third, time differences are variable on the internet then in face-to-face communication where it's only a few moments. So on the internet, you can take your time to write your responses. There are more factors, but these are the ones I consider important. Combined with other problems like social anxiety disorder or at least a vulnerability to anxiety disorder, an addiction is likely to occur. I’d like you to visit neilsclark.com, he’s someone who researches on online video game addiction and has his opinion on the AMA piece.

IMO, I think that you are right that it should be specific rather than the blanket term of internet addiction or video game addiction. But there are plenty of anectodal evidence that there is addiction to video games besides the social nature of MMORPGs like levelling up grinding or variable ratio schedule of reinforcement. It should also be noted that the criteria are mostly copied from gambling addiction.

There are conflicting evidence as the social affect of the internet. Dimitri Williams, if I recall, said that it can amplify one’s personality disposition as in extroverts go more extrovert and introverts go more introvert. But other studies suggest otherwise, so it’s not clear.

And electronic social interactions are very different from face-to-face, plenty of studies there. First, the user can easily manipulate their identity, so a person can become someone they want, a better life than real life. Second, you don’t see the face of the other person so you don’t see non-verbal responses which is important in conversations. Third, time differences are variable on the internet then in face-to-face communication where it’s only a few moments. So on the internet, you can take your time to write your responses. There are more factors, but these are the ones I consider important.

Combined with other problems like social anxiety disorder or at least a vulnerability to anxiety disorder, an addiction is likely to occur.

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