Problem gaming/ Problem gambling….What are the Comparisons?

Hey everyone, Aztec Warrior here with my fifth instalment beginning with a question: What are the similarities and comparisons between problem gaming, problem gambling and drug addiction? What theories can be found and discussed in order to answer this question.

Kevin (Veale) brought up some really good points during the lecture on Tuesday 1st February about gaming addiction. Ones that I would like to touch on here are Discourse, Chemical and Non Chemical effects associated with gaming addiction and so it can also help with the other problems which for me are gambling and drug addiction.

Discourse in relation to gaming addiction can be boiled down to two different meanings or types: Chemical and Non-Chemical. In my case, being a compulsive gambler and reformed addict and avid arcade gamer, I’d have to say that I am affected by both because in all honestly I have to say that drug addiction and gambling affect me both physically and psychologically. It may not be as evident in my arcade gaming but as far as comparisons are concerned I think everyone gets the right idea.

As a result of my (drug) addiction, many of the definitions discussed in Kevin’s lecture fits my social and psychological situation. The chemical dependency theory may not fit into the gaming addiction side of things for me but it definitely does in relation to gambling and drug addiction situation. One can assume that addiction to gaming can be related to feeding the THC (tetra hydra cannibinol) levels in the human physical system. The more that is there the more a person wants. I can relate this to gaming in that each time a particular level is reached there is always the anticipation to achieve more and unlock more and more levels but as the levels are achieved the difficulty increases. Drug addiction is fuelled by chemical reaction and gambling is fuelled by non-chemical reaction. So therefore, there are comparisons between gaming and gambling in relation to Chemical and Non chemical effects.

Last but not least, Dopamine, another term that became of interest to me during the lecture as it referred to the pleasurable experiences that can derived from an addiction such as gaming, gambling or drug addiction. Dopamine can be associated with chemical and non-chemical effects and the pleasures experienced as a result. There is always a sense of satisfaction when a certain level of gaming is achieved. The same thing can be said of drug addiction. If enough of a drug is consumed internally, certain levels of pleasure can be experienced. However, like gaming addiction there can be frustration and sometimes even a little anger if either certain gaming levels are not reached or a certain sensation is not derived from consuming drugs.

Anyway, that was my take on discourse, chemical and non-chemical effects, and Dopamine