Dependance on online computer games as a type of addictive behaviour

The article discusses the dependence on online computer games as a kind of addic- tive behavior, analyzing different viewpoints of researchers. The author represents the results of empirical studies of personality and behavioral characteristics of players, which enable to detect statistically significant differences in characteristics such as locus of control (internality / externality) and coping behavior. In the group of players internality level was lower than in the control group, and the frequency of selection of coping strategy avoidance was higher. Moreover, the author found out the correla- tion between these parameters: the level of internality is negatively correlated with the frequency of selection of avoidance strategies. These data indicate that the one of the basic factors, which forms addictive behavior, in particular, addiction to com- puter online games, is the consciousness of the degree of responsibility for one’s live, of opportunities to influence its course. These results open new perspectives for further study of the problem of computer and Internet addiction. In addition to empirical data, obtained as a result of the author's research, the article analyses well-known theoreti- cal concepts and practical work in the field of Internet addiction, coping behavior and locus of control.

1. Babaeva Yu.D., Voiskunskii A.E., Smyslova O.V. Internet: vozdeistvie na lichnost` [Internet: impact on individuals]. In Voiskunskiy A.E. (eds.) Gumanitarnye issledovaniya v Internete [Humanities research on the Internet]. Moscow: Mozhaisk-Terra, 2000. 432 p. (In Russ.).
2. Belinskaya E.P. Vzaimosvyaz` Internet-zavisimosti i strategii sovladaniya s trudnymi zhiznennymi situaciyami [The relationship of Internet addiction and coping strategies in difficult life situations]. In Voiskunskiy A.E. (eds.) Internet-zavisimost`: psihologicheskaya priroda i dinamika razvitiya [Internet addiction: psychological nature and dynamics of de- velopment]. Moscow: Akropol`, 2009. pp.188—197. (In Russ.).
3. Bratus` B.S. Anomalii lichnosti [Anomalies of personality]. Moscow: Mysl`, 1988.
4. Burova V.A. Internet-zavisimost` v medicinskoi paradigme [Internet addiction in the medical paradigm]. In Voiskunskiy A.E. (eds.) Internet-zavisimost`: psihologicheskaya priroda i dinamika razvitiya [Internet addiction: psychological nature and dynamics of de- velopment]. Moscow: Akropol`, 2009. pp.101—111
5. Voiskunskii A.E. Gruppovaya igrovaya deyatelnost` v Internete [Elektronnyi resurs] [The group’s online activities] // Psihologicheskii zhurnal [Psychological journal]. 1999. Vol. 20, no. 1, pp.126—132. URL: http://www.psy.msu.ru/science/public/voyskunskiy/ voyskunskiy_1999.pdf (Accessed 22.06.2016). (In Russ., Abstr. in Engl.).
6. Grekov M.A. Fenomen eskapizma v medianasyshennom obshestve: Diss. … kand. fi- losof. nauk. [The phenomenon of escapism in a media-saturated society. PhD Sci. (Phi- losophy) diss.]. Omsk, 2008.
7. Gutman I.E. Komp`yuternye virtual`nye igry: kul`turno-antropologicheskie aspekty analiza: Diss. … kand. filosof. nauk. [Computer-virtual games: cultural and anthropologi- cal aspects of the analysis. PhD Sci. (Philosophy) diss.]. St. Petersburg, 2009.
8. Zapesockaya I.V., Nikishina V.B. Sostoyanie zavisimosti: metapsihologicheskii pod- hod [Elektronnyi resurs] [A state of dependence: the metapsychological approach] // Klinicheskaya i special`naya psihologiya [Clinical psychology and special psychology]. 2013, no. 2. URL: https://psyjournals.ru/psyclin/2013/n2/62045.shtml (Accessed 22.06.2016). (In Russ.).
9. Korsakova L.I. Koping-povedenie i zashitnye mehanizmy sistemy adaptacii lichnos- ti [Elektronnyi resurs] [The coping-behaviors and defense mechanisms of the system of an individual adaptation] // TRUDY SGA [Proceedings of the SGA]. 2010, no. 8. URL: http://www.edit.muh.ru/content/mag/trudy/08_2010/11.pdf (Accessed 22.06.2016). (In Russ.).
10. Kutuzova D.A. Еskapizm kak forma samoopredeleniya v podrostkovom i yunosheskom vozraste: Tezisy dokladov uchastnikov konferencii «Lomonosov-2001» [Elektronnyi resurs] [Escapism as a form of self-determination in adolescence and early adulthood: Abstracts of the participants of the conference «Lomonosov-2001»]. URL: http://www.psy.msu.ru/sci- ence/conference/lomonosov/2001/index.html (Accessed 22.06.2016). (In Russ.).
11. Leont’ev A.N. Deyatel’nost’. Soznanie. Lichnost’ [Activities. Consciousness. Person- ality.]. Moscow: Kniga po trebovaniyu, 2011. 352 p.
12. Litinskaya D.G. Tipy sovremennogo eskapizma i fenomen ekzistencial’nogo eskapiz- ma [Еlektronnyi resurs] [Types of Modern Escapism and the Phenomenon of Existen- tial Escapism]. Yaroslavskii pedagogicheskii vestnik [Yaroslavl Pedagogical Gazette]. 2012. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Gumanitarnye nauki [Humanitarian sciences]). URL: http://vestnik.yspu. org/releases/2012_1g/69.pdf (Accessed 22.06.2016). (In Russ.).
13. Marinova T.Yu., Zaretskaya O.V. Social`no-psihologicheskie aspekty zavisimosti ot komp`yuternyh mnogopol`zovatel`skih onlain-igr [Social Psychological Aspects of Ad- diction to Massively Multiplayer Online Role`Playing Games] // Social`naya psihologiya i obschestvo [Social Psychology and Society]. 2015. Vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 109—119. doi:10.17759/ sps.2015060308 (In Russ.).
14. Metodika «Indikator koping-strategiy» [Elektronnyi resurs] [The method of «indi- cator coping strategies»]. URL: http://psylab.info/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0_%C2%AB%D0%98%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3-%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B9%C2%BB#.D0.A1.D1.81.D1.8B.D0.BB.D0.BA.D0.B0        (Accessed 22.06.2016).
15. Metodika “Uroven’ sub’ektivnogo kontrolya” [Elektronnyi resurs][ The method of «subjective control level»] URL: http://psylab.info/%D0%9E%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%C2%AB%D0%A3%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8F%C2%BB (Accessed 22.06.2016).
16. Shaidulina A.F. Sravnitel’noe issledovanie osobennostei blizhaishego okruzheniya pacientov, stradayuschih patologicheskoi sklonnost’yu k azartnym igram, i pacientov s komp’yuternoi zavisimost’iu [The comparative study of features nearest environment of the patients of pathological gamblers, and the patients with computer addiction]. In Voiskunskiy A.E. (eds.) Internet-zavisimost`: psihologicheskaya priroda i dinamika raz- vitiya [Internet addiction: psychological nature and dynamics of development]. Moscow: Akropol’, 2009, pp. 237—250. (In Russ.).
17. Hopson J. Behavioral Game Design [Elektronnyi resurs]. URL: http://www.gamasu- tra.com/view/feature/131494/behavioral_game_design.php  (Accessed  22.06.2016).
18. Shokrizade R. The Top F2P Monetization Tricks [Еlektronnyi resurs]. URL: http:// www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RaminShokrizade/20130626/194933/The_Top_F2P_ Monetization_Tricks.php (Accessed 22.06.2016).
19. Wong D. 5 Creepy Ways Video Games Are Trying to Get You Addicted [Еlektronnyi resurs] [Poimat’ na kryuchok po nauke] // In I. Yakutenko (trans.). URL: http://lenta. ru/columns/2010/08/11/games/ (Accessed 22.06.2016).
20. Young K.S. When Gaming becomes an Obsession: Help for Parents and their Children to treat Online Gaming Addiction [Elektronnyi resurs]. URL: http://netaddiction.com/ articles/Online%20Gaming%20Treatment.pdf  (Accessed  22.06.2016).