A lot has been written about computer game violence this week because of the much-awaited launch of “Grand Theft Auto IV”, with dire warnings about turning our kids into killers. On cue – there was a stabbing in a queue to buy the game in Croydon – there see, goes to prove it!!
But regardless of content, the most immediate worry is why are these games so addicitive, drawing in just as many adults as children to play for hours on end, daily.
The reason is simple – they are designed to be addictive. Level after level they must be conquered, mounting greater competitive challenges. The worlds are infinite and can be explored without a blistered foot in sight. Players can do and be whoever they want and meet other gamers online without accountability.
In other words they represent a freedom we never get in real life, fulfilling our instinct for uninhibited and competitive behaviour, without any social constraints..
This is known as “process addiction” – following a habit that provides immediate gratification through disinhibited behaviour releasing dopamine in the brain – hey that feels good.
Process addiction is defined as: Addiction to certain mood-altering behaviors, such as eating disorders, gambling, sexual activity, overwork, and shopping.
Watch a person immersed Grand Theft Auto and you are watching someone anaesthetising themselves from the pressure of real life and escaping into another world. It’s the nature of these games that they do this. That means by their very nature they are compulsive.
What we stand to lose are some of the hard-fought-for pleasures of real life: a real adventure, a real relationship.
As a parent of teenagers who love their computer games, I am more concerned about this lack of real life quality time than from the violence which I do feel they leave behind when they put their XBox controller down.
Technorati Tags: Addiction, computer games, Computer games are addictive, Grand Theft Auto
About Keith Watson
Hi - I am Keith Watson.
This blog is dedicated to Banger - a teacher from my teenage years who - at least once a week - insisted upon cracking the hilarious - and I have to say - never heard before line "What's on Watson?".
I would smile demurely - the rest of the class would fall about with sides aching - and life would go on for another week.
'Wats-on My Mind' I have decided will assist me personally as well as be of interest to others (I hope) who share my challenges. It will help keep me organised and document my activities so that I know what I did yesterday.
You think I am joking!!
I have been in the website development game since 1993 and have been involved with over 2000 website builds (with the help of my fantastic team of freelance programmers)
It was only in the last two years though that I have moved over to making money for myself on line and in particular linking up with an amazing talent called Adam Eason to produce and distribute self help and hypnotherapy products.
As a result of looking to promote these products I have downloaded hundreds of internet marketing articles and e-books, studied countless reports, tested list building tactics, butterflied, boot-camped, buzzed, adsensed, affiliated, met a jerk, jv'ed, plr given-awayed, and generally suffered from information overload.
My computer - presumably in a fit of pique or simply demanding a holiday has given up the ghost on at least two occassions - causing me even more stress.
Oh this simple business of making money online.
BUT the great news is that it is all working and our list has grown - I have found some gurus I have complete faith in - and Adam and I are actually making money from our endeavours.
Some way to go but I am more relaxed and can spot a phoney over hyped, sexed up, must have latest product which you must either buy or if not, simply fade into oblivion. There’s not room on this Internet for the two of us.
This ramble of an introduction is really to set the scene for I am sure an interesting journey which I invite you to join. In fact I want you to help me find the right tools, scripts, plugins etc. etc, that will catapult me into the stratosphere of success. I hope you will be there with me.
I don't just consider success in a monetary sense. I so want to help some friends of mine who are involved in Christian missionary work in some pretty harrowing parts of this world. If I can bring any help to their missions that will give me more satisfaction than anything else.
I really, really do love this web stuff and the people you meet. I am convinced that this powerful technology can be harnessed to do some good.
