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Study: Video Game Addicts Aren't Nerds

'Problem gamers' may be unhealthy, but they're not lonely geeks

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 13, 2008 8:20 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The stereotype of the hard-core gamer as a friendless geek may be as outdated as Pac-Man, Reuters reports. An Australian study looked at "problem gamers" who spent more than 50 hours a week playing and discovered that less than 1% had poor social skills. The findings contradict statements from the American Medical Association suggesting people hooked on games like World of Warcraft struggle to cope in the real world.

"Our findings strongly suggest that gaming doesn't cause social problems, and social problems are not driving people to gaming," one of the researchers said. "What is important to note is that even problem gamers did not exhibit significant signs of poor social skills or low self-esteem."

A Chinese youth plays an online game. An online survey discovered that fans of massively-multiplayer online games are more likely to become 'problem gamers.'
A Chinese youth plays an online game. An online survey discovered that fans of massively-multiplayer online games are more likely to become 'problem gamers.'   (Getty Images)
Visitors try out the beta version of the computer game World of Warcraft on the press preview day in this Aug. 23, 2006, file photo.
Visitors try out the beta version of the computer game "World of Warcraft" on the press preview day in this Aug. 23, 2006, file photo.   (AP Photo/Eckehard Schulz, file)
Players at a computer gaming summit in Germany.
Players at a computer gaming summit in Germany.   (Getty Images)
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Study probed video game addiction
CRN

Doctor treats 'Warcraft' addicts
Boston Globe

 
addiction • gaming • World of Warcraft • MMORPG • American Medical Association • online gaming • Internet addiction • video games

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