Motivational differences in problem video game play

Self-determination theory states that motivation plays an important role in initiating, developing and maintaining involvement within an activity. The present study applied this theory to video game playing and surveyed 399 video game players, 82 percent of which were male with a mean age of 20.3 years old, on measures of video game playing involvement, motivation to play video games and problem video game play. Participants were obtained from various video game retail outlets, Internet cafes, and LAN gaming businesses. The results showed that extrinsic motivations to play video games, such as tension release, social approval and external regulation by in-game rewards, and amotivation, or playing without a sense of purpose about the activity, were significant predictors of problem video game playing. The results were discussed in terms of their application to identifying and assisting young people with potentially problematic levels of video game playing.

[1]  Andrew K. Przybylski,et al.  The Motivational Pull of Video Games: A Self-Determination Theory Approach , 2006 .

[2]  E. Deci,et al.  Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions. , 2000, Contemporary educational psychology.

[3]  M. Freeston,et al.  Psychological Characteristics of Volunteers in Studies on Gambling , 2004, Journal of Gambling Studies.

[4]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Video Game Playing and Gambling in Adolescents: Common Risk Factors , 2004 .

[5]  Robert E. Kraut,et al.  Project massive: self-regulation and problematic use of online gaming , 2007, CHI.

[6]  Peter M. Wiemer-Hastings,et al.  Addiction to the Internet and Online Gaming , 2005, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[7]  D. Ingledew,et al.  Personality and self-determination of exercise behaviour , 2004 .

[8]  A. Johansson,et al.  Problems with Computer Games without Monetary Reward: Similarity to Pathological Gambling , 2004, Psychological reports.

[9]  Alex Blaszczynski,et al.  Internet Use: In Search of an Addiction , 2006, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.

[10]  Frederick P Rivara,et al.  Television, video, and computer game usage in children under 11 years of age. , 2004, The Journal of pediatrics.

[11]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  The observational study of adolescent gambling in UK amusement arcades , 1991 .

[12]  Richard T. A. Wood,et al.  Risk Factors in Adolescence: The Case of Gambling, Videogame Playing, and the Internet , 2004, Journal of Gambling Studies.

[13]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Videogame Addiction: Further Thoughts and Observations , 2008, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.

[14]  Griffiths.  Diagnosis and management of video game addiction , 2008 .

[15]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Breaking the Stereotype: The Case of Online Gaming , 2003, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[16]  Shao-I Chiu,et al.  Video Game Addiction in Children and Teenagers in Taiwan , 2004, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[17]  S. Fisher,et al.  Identifying video game addiction in children and adolescents. , 1994, Addictive behaviors.

[18]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Demographic Factors and Playing Variables in Online Computer Gaming , 2004, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[19]  E. Deci,et al.  The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior , 2000 .

[20]  John P. Charlton,et al.  Distinguishing addiction and high engagement in the context of online game playing , 2007, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[21]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Home video game playing in schoolchildren: a study of incidence and patterns of play , 1995 .

[22]  R. Vallerand,et al.  A motivational model of leisure participation in the elderly. , 1993, The Journal of psychology.

[23]  M. Griffiths,et al.  Amusement machine playing in childhood and adolescence: a comparative analysis of video games and fruit machines. , 1991, Journal of adolescence.

[24]  Stéphane Sabourin,et al.  Toward a motivational model of couple happiness , 1990 .

[25]  R. Mcclure,et al.  Video Game Players: Personality Characteristics and Demographic Variables , 1984 .

[26]  M. Davies,et al.  Online computer gaming: a comparison of adolescent and adult gamers. , 2004, Journal of adolescence.

[27]  Jacob Cohen,et al.  A power primer. , 1992, Psychological bulletin.

[28]  Mark D. Griffiths,et al.  Computer game playing in adolescence: prevalence and demographic indicators , 1995 .

[29]  R. Ladouceur,et al.  Prevalence of pathological gambling and associated problems in individuals who visit non-gambling video arcades , 1995, Journal of Gambling Studies.

[30]  R. Ryan,et al.  Social pressure, coercion, and client engagement at treatment entry: a self-determination theory perspective. , 2006, Addictive behaviors.

[31]  D. Clarke.  Impulsiveness, Locus of Control, Motivation and Problem Gambling , 2004, Journal of Gambling Studies.

[32]  John P. Charlton,et al.  A factor-analytic investigation of computer 'addiction' and engagement. , 2002, British journal of psychology.