Chapter 4: Am I a gaming
addict?
Coming
to terms with whether you have an addiction to gaming will not be easy. Chances
are if you have a serious problem controlling the amount of time and energy you
invest in gaming, you don't see your behavior as a problem.
As
you may already know, addiction is fueled by the false belief that a person can control their behavior despite obvious
signs that they are out of control. For example, the alcoholic believes he can
have a single drink and then ends up having 10 drinks in three hours. Likewise,
the cocaine addict thinks he can have a line or two at a party -- and then ends
up spending the weekend binging.
Addiction
is fueled by self-deception or what is commonly referred to as DENIAL. Are you in denial? Or, do you have an accurate picture of your
behavior when it comes to video gaming?
Let’s
start with a questionnaire that focuses on your gaming behavior.
You
may think that completing this questionnaire is a waste of time because you already
know you do not have a problem.
However,
you may have an inner voice that is concerned. There certainly is no harm in
completing this questionnaire -- so, why not take the time to answer the
questions honestly and see
where you stand.
Here is a self-test adapted from a questionnaire
created by Dr. Brent Conrad:
1)The type of game I play is:
a) MMORPG / MMO (e.g., World of Warcraft, Lineage, Runescape, Everquest) (3)
b) Real Time Strategy (e.g., Company of Heroes, Age of Empires, Command & Conquer, Warhammer) (3)
c) First Person Shooter (e.g., Team Fortress, Halo, Killzone, Unreal Tournament, Call of Duty) (2)
d) Action (e.g., Grand Theft Auto, Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted, Fallout, Assassin's Creed) (2)
e) Sports (e.g., Madden NFL, NHL, FIFA Soccer, NBA Street, Fight Night) (1)
f) Fighter (e.g., Tekken, Street Fighter, Soulcalibur, Mortal Kombat, Dead or Alive, Virtual Fighter) (1)
g) Music (e.g., Guitar Hero, Rock Band) (1)
h) Racing (e.g., Forza Motorsport, Need for Speed, Burnout, Gran Turismo) (1)
I) Puzzle (e.g., Bejeweled, Peggle, World of Goo) (0)
j) Platformer (e.g., Super Mario, MegaMan, LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet & Clank) (0)
a) MMORPG / MMO (e.g., World of Warcraft, Lineage, Runescape, Everquest) (3)
b) Real Time Strategy (e.g., Company of Heroes, Age of Empires, Command & Conquer, Warhammer) (3)
c) First Person Shooter (e.g., Team Fortress, Halo, Killzone, Unreal Tournament, Call of Duty) (2)
d) Action (e.g., Grand Theft Auto, Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted, Fallout, Assassin's Creed) (2)
e) Sports (e.g., Madden NFL, NHL, FIFA Soccer, NBA Street, Fight Night) (1)
f) Fighter (e.g., Tekken, Street Fighter, Soulcalibur, Mortal Kombat, Dead or Alive, Virtual Fighter) (1)
g) Music (e.g., Guitar Hero, Rock Band) (1)
h) Racing (e.g., Forza Motorsport, Need for Speed, Burnout, Gran Turismo) (1)
I) Puzzle (e.g., Bejeweled, Peggle, World of Goo) (0)
j) Platformer (e.g., Super Mario, MegaMan, LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet & Clank) (0)
2) On an average weekday I play video games for:
a) 0 – 1 hour. (0)
b) 2 hours. (1)
c) 3 hours. (2)
d) 4 hours. (3)
e) 5 or more hours. (4)
3) On an average day on the weekend
I play video games for:
a) 0 – 1 hour. (0)
b) 2 hours. (1)
c) 3 – 4 hours. (2)
d) 5 – 6 hours. (3)
e) 7 or more hours. (4)
a) 0 – 1 hour. (0)
b) 2 hours. (1)
c) 3 – 4 hours. (2)
d) 5 – 6 hours. (3)
e) 7 or more hours. (4)
4) I have unsuccessfully been
able to decrease the amount of time I play video games:
a) Never. (0)
b) One time. (1)
c) Two times. (1)
d) Three times. (2)
e) Four or more times. (3)
a) Never. (0)
b) One time. (1)
c) Two times. (1)
d) Three times. (2)
e) Four or more times. (3)
5) If my parents did not set
limits on video game time, I would play:
a) About the same amount as I play now. (0)
b) Somewhat more than I play now. (1)
c) Significantly more than I play now. (2)
d) Far more than I play now. (2)
a) About the same amount as I play now. (0)
b) Somewhat more than I play now. (1)
c) Significantly more than I play now. (2)
d) Far more than I play now. (2)
a) Yes. (2)
b) No. (0)
7) I stay up late gaming and I
am often tired the next day:
a) Never or rarely. (0)
b) Occasionally. (1)
c) Frequently. (2)
d) Almost always. (3)
a) Never or rarely. (0)
b) Occasionally. (1)
c) Frequently. (2)
d) Almost always. (3)
8) I am allowed to play video
games before my homework is completed:
a) Never or rarely. (-1)
b) Occasionally. (0)
c) Frequently. (1)
d) Almost always. (2)
a) Never or rarely. (-1)
b) Occasionally. (0)
c) Frequently. (1)
d) Almost always. (2)
9) I would prefer to play video
games alone rather than go out with friends:
a) Never or rarely. (0)
b) Occasionally. (1)
c) Frequently. (2)
d) Always. (3)
a) Never or rarely. (0)
b) Occasionally. (1)
c) Frequently. (2)
d) Always. (3)
10) I have very few friends
outside of my gaming community:
a) Not at all true. (0)
b) Somewhat true. (1.5)
c) Definitely true. (3)
a) Not at all true. (0)
b) Somewhat true. (1.5)
c) Definitely true. (3)
a) Not at all true. (0)
b) Somewhat true. (1.5)
c) Definitely true. (3)
12) I lie about how much time I
spend playing video games:
a) Not at all true. (0)
b) Probably true. (1)
c) Definitely true. (2)
a) Not at all true. (0)
b) Probably true. (1)
c) Definitely true. (2)
13) I am an active member in
school activities and clubs:
a) No, none at all. (2)
b) Yes, one activity or club. (0)
c) Yes, two activities or clubs. (-1)
d) Yes, three or more activities or clubs. (-2)
a) No, none at all. (2)
b) Yes, one activity or club. (0)
c) Yes, two activities or clubs. (-1)
d) Yes, three or more activities or clubs. (-2)
14) I have interests other than
video gaming:
a) No, none at all. (3)
b) Yes, one other significant interest. (1)
c) Yes, two other significant interests. (-1)
d) Yes, three or more significant interests. (-2)
a) No, none at all. (3)
b) Yes, one other significant interest. (1)
c) Yes, two other significant interests. (-1)
d) Yes, three or more significant interests. (-2)
15) I neglect my hygiene because
of video game play (showering, shaving, changing clothes, etc.):
a) Never or rarely. (0)
b) Occasionally. (1)
c) Often. (2)
d) Always. (3)
a) Never or rarely. (0)
b) Occasionally. (1)
c) Often. (2)
d) Always. (3)
a) Never – I do not spend money on gaming. (0)
b) Rarely – I spend only a small portion of my money on games. (0)
c) Often – I spend a significant portion of my money on games. (1.5)
d) Always – I spend every all of my money on video games. (3)
17) I currently have a part-time
job:
a) No, I’m too young to work. (0)
b) No, I’m too involved in other activities (not including video games). (-1)
c) No, I don’t want to work (2)
d) Yes, but I have difficulty holding onto jobs. (2)
e) Yes, and I have successfully held onto jobs. (-2)
18) Other family members are
concerned about how much time I play video games:
a) No. my family knows how much I play and they are not worried about it. (-1)
b) No. Others do not know how I play. (0)
c) Yes, other family members are concerned about my gaming. (2)
a) No. my family knows how much I play and they are not worried about it. (-1)
b) No. Others do not know how I play. (0)
c) Yes, other family members are concerned about my gaming. (2)
19) I become irritable and
anxious when I cannot play video games:
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (0.5)
c) Often. (2)
d) Always. (3)
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (0.5)
c) Often. (2)
d) Always. (3)
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (0)
c) Occasionally. (1)
d) Often. (2)
21) I become angry and
defensive when my parents ask about my gaming habits:
a) Never. (0)
b) Yes, occasionally. (1)
c) Yes, often. (2)
d) Yes, almost always. (2)
a) Never. (0)
b) Yes, occasionally. (1)
c) Yes, often. (2)
d) Yes, almost always. (2)
22) My parents decide what games I am allowed to play:
a) Yes, always. (-1)
b) Usually. My parents screen most games and do not allow certain games into the house. (0)
c) Rarely. I generally choose which games I buy or install. (2)
d) Never. I always buy and install any game I want. (2)
23)I play online when my
friends, team, guild, or clan will also be playing – even if this is at odd or
inconvenient hours:
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (1)
c) Sometimes. (2)
d) Often. (3)
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (1)
c) Sometimes. (2)
d) Often. (3)
24) I would have difficulty
giving up all video games for one week:
a) No, not at all (-2)
b) I wouldn’t like it, but I could do it without too many complaints. (1)
c) I would have great difficulty giving up video games for one week. (2)
d) It would be virtually impossible for me to give up video games for one week. (3)
25) I eat meals while playing video games:
a) Never, just a snack now and then. (0)
b) Sometimes.(1)
c) Often. (2)
d) Always. (3)
26) I know I spend too much time playing video games:
a) No. (0)
b) Yes. (3)
27) I get headaches, red eyes, sore fingers, and wrist pains from playing video games:
a) Never or very rarely. (0)
b) Sometimes. (1)
c) Often. (2)
a) No, not at all (-2)
b) I wouldn’t like it, but I could do it without too many complaints. (1)
c) I would have great difficulty giving up video games for one week. (2)
d) It would be virtually impossible for me to give up video games for one week. (3)
25) I eat meals while playing video games:
a) Never, just a snack now and then. (0)
b) Sometimes.(1)
c) Often. (2)
d) Always. (3)
26) I know I spend too much time playing video games:
a) No. (0)
b) Yes. (3)
27) I get headaches, red eyes, sore fingers, and wrist pains from playing video games:
a) Never or very rarely. (0)
b) Sometimes. (1)
c) Often. (2)
28) I play video games at the
first available opportunity (for example, as soon as arriving home from school,
immediately after dinner, etc.):
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (0)
c) Sometimes. (1)
d) Often. (2)
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (0)
c) Sometimes. (1)
d) Often. (2)
29) I have gaming sessions that
last 7 or more hours nonstop:
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (2)
c) Sometimes. (3)
d) Often. (4)
30) I am performing well academically in school:
a) Never. (2)
b) Rarely. (1)
c) Usually. (-1)
d) Always. (-2)
a) Never. (0)
b) Rarely. (2)
c) Sometimes. (3)
d) Often. (4)
30) I am performing well academically in school:
a) Never. (2)
b) Rarely. (1)
c) Usually. (-1)
d) Always. (-2)
What does my score mean?
0 – 20 points
Likelihood of Video Game Addiction: LOW
Based on your answers, you are not engaging in excessive gaming.
21 – 40 points
Likelihood of Video Game Addiction: MODERATE
Based on your answers, it is possible you are developing a problem controlling your gaming. While you are not addicted, you may be having difficulty with school performance, you may be fatigue due to late night gaming, and you may be losing interest in hobbies and friends. At this point you are in a good position to make changes to prevent your gaming from becoming an addiction.
41 – 60 points
Likelihood of Video Game Addiction: HIGH
Based on your answers, it is very likely you are showing multiple symptoms of video game addiction. More than likely you now respond with defensiveness and anger when any limit is set on gaming. More than likely your grades are suffering, you are disconnected from friends and family, and have lost interest in activities other than gaming. You are likely eating meals while gaming and have little interest in your appearance and hygiene. You also may be experiencing cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal.
Likelihood of Video Game Addiction: HIGH
Based on your answers, it is very likely you are showing multiple symptoms of video game addiction. More than likely you now respond with defensiveness and anger when any limit is set on gaming. More than likely your grades are suffering, you are disconnected from friends and family, and have lost interest in activities other than gaming. You are likely eating meals while gaming and have little interest in your appearance and hygiene. You also may be experiencing cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal.
61 – 80 points
Likelihood of Video Game Addiction: VERY HIGH
Based on your answers, you are addicted to video gaming and gaming is therefore negatively affecting multiple areas of your life. At this point, video gaming is the center of your life. More than likely you have little or no interest in school -- and may no longer be attending school. You are likely gaming until late at night and may be sleeping during the day. You are very likely depressed and/or anxious when gaming is unavailable, you are neglecting your hygiene, and you are spending all of your money on gaming. You may be explosive/aggressive when limits are set by your parents. Despite these consequences, efforts to get you to cut back have been unsuccessful.
Likelihood of Video Game Addiction: VERY HIGH
Based on your answers, you are addicted to video gaming and gaming is therefore negatively affecting multiple areas of your life. At this point, video gaming is the center of your life. More than likely you have little or no interest in school -- and may no longer be attending school. You are likely gaming until late at night and may be sleeping during the day. You are very likely depressed and/or anxious when gaming is unavailable, you are neglecting your hygiene, and you are spending all of your money on gaming. You may be explosive/aggressive when limits are set by your parents. Despite these consequences, efforts to get you to cut back have been unsuccessful.
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