Resist, Obsession please

November 24, 2007

I was actually going zany over PERFECT WORLD when Irene chatted to me about this new online computer game of Level up Games. And I must admit that I’m already obsess to this simple thing in life. Then I came to a point where I asked myself, Is it healthy to continue doing this?

Lets face reality- reality speaks about computer games obsession.

Psychology would explain that computer addiction is a result of three factors: Classical conditioning, Operant conditioning (schedules of reinforcement) and Neurotransmitters effects on the behavior. How is this possible? Read on..

Classical Conditioning: The feeling of winning and the exhilaration of knowing that one is powerful over others sets the condition that players often have when they see images or characters of the game. Thus, when players are not in front of the computer and clicking on commands and negative feelings set in like stress.

Operant Conditioning: The sense of not knowing what will happen next makes the player became consumed and obsessed in the game. Since the predictability of the success of the game is a big question mark, the players become addicted to the game. One failure will only lead the player to imagine better strategies and will only prompt the player to try again until he wins in the succeeding games.

Neurotransmitters. Brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, influence feelings and behaviors. The addictive feeling one feels over something is actually a result of the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the nervous system. Most often, people with low levels of dopamine are prone to anxiety, craving and addiction. Whenever they feel triumphant, the brain produces more dopamine that would result to having a good feeling and higher motivation. The winning feeling creates good feelings that become even more desirable every time the person recalls the event.

Another neurotransmitter that has an addictive effect is serotonin, a neurotransmitter that causes and controlled behavior when in the normal level. Low levels of serotonin when combined with low levels of dopamine results to irrational urges. As a fact, imbalance of both neurotransmitters has been linked to aggressive and impulsive behavior. This would explain why some students would do straight from class to play on-line games until the wee hours of the morning. They simply could not stop.

However, let us not forget that one only becomes a computer addict when the act is used as a coping mechanism (e.g. when they feel stressed and all they can think about is playing to ease the tension). when it impairs normal functioning (e.g. not being able to comply assignments on line or when one has difficulty sleeping on time), and when simply couldn’t stop doing it to the point of even lying.

Computer games are meant to put diversion in the busy life we are living in. But when one can no loner distinguish the difference between past- time and obsession and when one has already sacrificed a lot from allowances, social interactions, and social obligations, then one has to think twice.

(From M Tech, February 2007)

We became obsessed with passion, the reason why we become slaves of it…