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Addiction and Entertainment Products

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posted on 2023-05-24, 06:27 authored by Griffiths, MD, Halley de Oliveira Miguel PontesHalley de Oliveira Miguel Pontes
Technological forms of entertainment have become increasingly popular among both adults and adolescents. However, there have been a growing number of reports about excessive use of entertainment technology and potentially addictive use (e.g., to video games, mobile phones, the Internet, etc.). The present chapter briefly overviews addiction to these entertainment products (i.e., “technological addictions”) by defining addiction and arguing that technological addictions are a type of behavioral addiction. The chapter also reviews the empirical literature concerning online gaming addiction and social networking addiction, as well as examining the differences between Internet gaming addiction and Internet addiction. The chapter demonstrates that issues encountered by contemporary researchers and clinicians regarding the assessment of online addictions appear complex and include several factors. It is concluded that there is a clear need to distinguish between addictions to the Internet and addictions on the Internet. Gambling or gaming addicts who chooses to engage in online gambling and gaming are not Internet addicts – the Internet is just the place where they conduct their chosen (addictive) behavior. Based on empirical research, it is evident that excessive entertainment technology use appears to be at least potentially addictive. Further research is needed on whether activities such as video game addiction and Internet addictions such as social networking addiction are distinct clinical entities.

History

Publication title

Handbook of Digital Games and Entertainment Technologies

Editors

R Nakatsu, M Rauterberg, P Ciancarini

Pagination

1225-1246

ISBN

9789814560498

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Springer Singapore

Place of publication

Singapore

Extent

50

Rights statement

Copyright 2015 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of United Kingdom

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Mental health

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    University Of Tasmania

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