Videogame Addiction: Further Thoughts and Observations

Abstract

This paper provides further thoughts and observations on Richard Wood’s paper “Problems with the concept of video game “addiction”: Some case study examples (this issue). Wood argues against the concept of ‘videogame addiction’ but very few of the arguments presented by Wood negate its existence. Just because the few empirical studies appear to overestimate the prevalence of ‘videogame addiction’, it does not mean that the condition does not exist. Furthermore, some of the assertions made by Wood are arguable. Furthermore, Wood does not put forward his own preferred criteria for addiction. This is especially problematic when using his own case studies to negate whether ‘videogame addiction’ exists. Until addiction researchers agree on what it is to be addicted, we will never get agreement on whether behavioural excesses like videogame playing can be classed as a ‘genuine’ addiction.