Internet Gaming Addiction

Have you ever noticed lately that the Internet is gaining more and more attention in the media and many people spend more time online than with real life friends and family? Each year there are many new online games that are being created for these such users. Many of these games are so in depth that it creates an atmosphere that makes it hard for the user to leave. World of Warcraft, which is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, is one of these games which draws people in at a very high rate.

Addiction, according to Dictionary.com, is defined as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma."

Many people who find themselves playing for extended periods of time are placing themselves at risk for internet gaming addiction. There has always been a lot of hype given to the topic of internet game addiction, some people believe it is simply media propaganda, and others see it as a very large problem. The purpose of this website is to look at the various aspects of internet gaming addiction to see whether there is merit to the beliefs that playing games online could become an addiction.

The following videos take two different views of the topic of internet gaming addiction.

World of Warcraft - Top Ten Signs You're Addicted!

World of Warcraft Addict

What we've done is to take a look at some of the different aspects of online gaming addiction, including the motivations for players to spend so much time involved in the game, the physical attributes that coincide with gaming addiction, the psychological factors that play a role in addiction and therapy that might be useful if addiction is a problem.

Stories of individuals who have become or are becoming addicted to internet gaming are increasing in the news. Here are some examples of how internet gaming addiction is taking its toll on society.

Death of a game addict

When escape is a mouse-click away

Warning Signs