By Dr. Aranda Wingsiong
You may be finding yourself becoming more dependent on your tech devices in the midst of this pandemic, particularly as an increasing number of social activities are migrating to online spaces. Social video games, for example, provide a way for us to connect with large pools of players in the safety of our own homes. There is much debate about the benefits and harm of social video games, and a common concern is how to tell if your gaming is a problem. One way to develop a broader perspective is to use the DBT skill of dialectical thinking when evaluating our own gaming behaviours, or that of others.
Social gaming can be helpful… Gaming is adaptive when it serves as a medium for effectively connecting with other people in a meaningful way. Shared goals within the game may foster supportive communities maintained by the sense of camaraderie between players. In some cases, it can provide a safer space for individuals to develop and practice their social skills. The online game might allow individuals to explore different responses to social situations within a more controlled environment, which contributes to testing out our beliefs about ourselves and beliefs about the world. For example, speaking out against the majority opinion may be easier when remaining anonymous and addressing an anonymous online audience of gamers compared to when you are sitting at a Thanksgiving dinner table with your family. This online experience can then help you decide how you would handle a similar situation in the future.
Short-term, gaming can serve as a pleasurable distraction, which is a helpful strategy for tolerating and reducing distress. The progression through a game may produce a sense of achievement in players, which contributes to their self-confidence and encourage other pursuits (e.g., reading literature with similar themes, creating game-inspired fanart). Achievement may be measured by unlocking a new section of the game storyline, improving their character’s abilities or appearances, acquiring rare items, access to exclusive content, completion of challenging tasks, and improving your rank on the public leaderboards.
…AND gaming can be problematic. Gaming may be harmful when it exposes players to invalidating environments. Individuals may experience aggression and bullying from other players, particularly as lines get blurred between playful banter and vitriolic trash-talking in competitive games. In some cases, players may be outcasted by other members of their team and/or the gaming community. Having live access to a large pool of users through the game does not guarantee success at making meaningful connections. Players who feel disconnected from the community because they feel they do not belong and/or lack the social skills to develop lasting relationships may grow increasingly lonely. This is similar to the experience of feeling lonely while you are in a large room full of people. In some cases, this could lead to thinking errors about yourself and your world (e.g., I am unlikeable, I am better off alone).
Online experiences may also reinforce maladaptive ways of responding to emotions. When individuals continue to choosegaming to distract from or to avoid persistent issuesin their life, they may experience worsening of their mental health problems. As these players continue to spend more time playing online, they may also have less opportunity to practice helpful, long-term solutions to their problems. This can further interfere with their daily functioning: struggle to function within their occupation (e.g., school, work); more problems in their social life; and/or less interest in activities they used to enjoy.
Building a practice of mindfully identifying both the benefits and problems of gaming can help you identify when intervention may be necessary. For family members, partners, and friends of individuals who have problematic gaming behaviours: a dialectical approach can help you understand and validate their emotional experiences, which serves as the first step to supporting their need for change.
Images
Hoots, J. (2017). Video Games. UnSplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/eCktzGjC-iU.