Video Game Addiction: Awareness and Prevention
By Peggy Ann, published Dec 28, 2007

I know that you, like all parents, want to please your children. Who is adverse to seeing a happy boy or girl erupting in laughter because you bought the perfect gift: a television or computer video game? Tremendous advertising has acquainted young people with the vast variety of games available starting from primary level to college.

It is no mistake that your child becomes addicted to video games. The company that manufactures games of this sort has psychologists and psychiatrists on payroll who study each game to make sure that there is an addictive component built in. It is only in recent years that the public found out that cigarette companies did the same thing; they added ingredients to tobacco that ensured addiction.

They showed us pictures of Bing Crosby and Perry Como, giants at the time, in the entertainment industry, who told us to, " Light up and relax with a smoke". The U.S. Army gave away cartons of cigarettes along with paychecks during the second World War. Is it any wonder that men and women of that generation became addicted to smoking. ( I guess I was one of the lucky ones; when I tried to light up, I choked and gagged.) No addiction took root in my system, Thank God.

Many of us remember Skittle Ball, a game I first encountered on the boardwalk during summer vacations at the shore. There were huge stuffed animals and dolls banked across the back wall enticing you to bring home a big prize. It was an easy game, once you adjusted your wrist for throwing the balls. We were outside in the fresh air, it probably cost a quarter. Why, it was Americana at the beach. After that came Pac Man, Nintendo and Atari. We bought Atari for our children and they played it daily after school. After a few weeks, we asked them how they felt about the games. My second son Michael, said, "They make my head hurt." That did it! We packed up all the wires and pieces (getting them back in the box was next to impossible) and shipped them back to Teas Instruments the next day.

Enough with history. What about now, what do we see in the current games and why should we be worried? First, we should be aware of the definition of addictive behavior. Addiction can be defined as a compulsive behavior causing stress on : the health of the player, stress on the family, lower grades in school or work leading to alienation and loneliness. One look at self help groups in the newspaper and you will see Gamblers Anonymous, Smokers Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Shoppers Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous. All of these are behaviors that have gotten out of control and require professional counseling to control.

With video game compulsion, the student loses interest in sports (both as a player or observer). He or she gains weight due to inactivity. They lose contact with friends because game playing is normally a one person activity; but, if two play the game, the partner develops the same profile. The student no longer eats meals with the family - what? Do you think I should leave this game unfinished?" And violence, did I mention violence? After playing a tough misogynous hero, who rapes and pillages, slicing and dicing everything in sight, are you calling ME to do homework? I think not.

How do you think he will react when asked to watch his little sister aged 5 years? If she cries and whines, will he be able to comfort her with milk and cookies or is he programmed to be rough, making her cry louder, making him madder?

There are documented cases of students killing their parents because they cut back on the time spent on video games. These children become violent with their families and the community because they instinctively copy adult behavior seen of the screen, the video screen. They cease to have remorse for their actions and parents are heard to say, "We don't know our son anymore." The violence is not always directed at parents, it is directed toward siblings and finally there are documented cases of suicide taking place, physically over the video game itself.

What can we do? First, become acquainted with games your children watch. That means researching the games yourself. Know what comes into your house. Place blocks on TV to prevent children from watching "R" and "X" rated movies. Make sure that the homes children visit have the same views and precautions as you do. Right at the start set a schedule for after school.

1. Change clothes to play clothes after school.

2. Sit them down for a snack. ( Fruit, Jello, pudding, sandwich) (Some children have been in a school bus for 45 or more minutes driving home.)

3. Playtime, preferably outside.

4. Dinner, talk about day, or current events.

5. Homework/ Go over homework.

6. Bath & Bed

In order to protect children from the violence they are exposed to everyday, parents must become parents once more, rather than being "buds". It is a tall order, protecting our children, and it cannot be accomplished alone. I firmly believe you need spiritual support. Actually, you need all the help you can get. I do not know the author of "The family that prays together stays together," but, in this society of gangs, murders, rapes and abuse, we must begin today to change our lives and the lives of our children. They need our help, now.

Peggy Ann Najar,
Parent, Grandparent,  and Community Servant.

ATTENTION: VIDEO GAMES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR AND ARE INCLUDED IN PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY TREAT ALCOHOL, DRUGS, GAMBLING ETC.