An Investigation into the Questionable Practice of
Using Excessive Massively Multiplayer Online
Game Play as a Marker of
Pathological Video Game Dependence among Adolescent and Young Adult Male Players
Although
pathological use of computer or
video games is not officially recognized as a clinical disorder, studies have consistently shown that a small group of players spend excessive amounts of time on
games and display numerous symptoms of
pathological behavior, such as preoccupation, withdrawal, loss of control, and interpersonal or intrapersonal conflicts (e.g., Charlton and Danforth 2007; Gentile 2009; Grüsser et al. 2007).