Is Video Game Addiction for Real?

For the moment, it appears that I'm an "expert" on Internet addiction to video games:  Candy Crush and Angry Birds in particular.  I had a great time as a guest on Antonio Mora's show Consider This on Friday night, when I was interviewed with Time Magazine reporter Eliana Docterman.  We were the final segment, a lighter-side close to the 10 pm news, and it aired around 10:50 pm.  A driver came to pick me up, someone was at the studio to do hair and makeup, a studio man to rig me up to a microphone and earpiece, and there were  a half-dozen calls with producers in New York to discuss what topics I was and wasn't able to discuss, plus a few calls for "Is the driver there? Are you on your way? Are you at the studio? 5 more minutes, 2 more minutes..." I'm sure it would have been even more fun if I'd been on the set in New York, but it was pretty good from the remote studio in Baltimore, even with my stage fright. I felt like a celebrity for an hour there, and I felt like I could discuss the topic, but I did not feel like an expert on internet addiction.  What really helped was when the producer told me that the host thought he was addicted to a phone game (bricklayer) -- I said he should mention that and it would be a great springboard for discussing what makes something an addiction. When the show finished airing, Antonio said to me, "You know, I do think I was addicted. I played it all the time, in the elevator, every chance I got."  I as...
Source: Shrink Rap - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Source Type: blogs