Understanding and Assisting Excessive Players of Video Games: A Community Psychology Perspective

Research has shown that a small but significant minority of video game players play excessively. Excessive play has been linked to fatigue, diminished productivity in work and school, and poor social relationships. The present study investigated the psychological and social context of video game playing in order to understand the phenomenon of excessive video game play. A group interview method was employed using a sample of 38 participants, including 23 adolescents and 15 adults. The analysis of results revealed several salient themes, including those related to player empowerment, recognition (feeling recognised for skilful playing), control (mastery of the game mechanics), and completion (obtaining all in-game rewards). The implications for community psychologists attempting to help excessive video game players are discussed.