How to recognize computer game addiction? Difficulty recognising and processing emotions can offer a clue

Hours spent on the computer playing games can give many people the impression that they are becoming addicted. However, psychologists also recognise other gaming behaviours that are characterised by high frequency and intensity of play but do not meet the characteristics of addiction. It can be described as active, unproblematic gaming (engagement). Distinguishing when it is addiction and when it is not may not be easy. However, other phenomena experienced by the player may offer a clue. For example, related to the processing of emotions.

In a new study, Lukas Blinka, Anna Faltýnková, and Karel Rečka investigated how alexithymia is related to computer game addiction and active, non-problematic gaming. The research trio is the first to look at each gaming behavior separately - examining both potentially addictive and unproblematic excessive gaming.

A possible indicator of gaming addiction called alexithymia

Alexithymia is a personality characteristic manifesting as a reduced ability to process emotions cognitively. To identify it, the research team used the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, which measures:

• difficulty in recognizing feelings
• difficulty in describing feelings
• orientation of thought and attention to external stimuli and rewards

Previous research has shown that alexithymia contributes to both a higher prevalence and severity of symptoms of various addictions, both substance and non-substance, and is associated with overall poorer mental health. Although computer gaming addiction is now officially classified in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, few studies have addressed the association with alexithymia.

The research sample included 2,050 people, 94 % of whom were male computer game players in the Czech Republic. The average age was 26 years.

Addiction and active gaming are not the same

The study confirms previous research findings and suggests that alexithymia is strongly related to gaming addiction. However, no association was found for active gaming - the effect of alexithymia was smaller and even opposite. The findings suggest that each of the two gaming behaviors is associated with a different ability to process emotions cognitively. This supports the need to distinguish between addiction and active unproblematic gaming, as they are not identical phenomena.

The strongest indicator of game addiction appears to be the difficulty in recognizing feelings. Related to this may be difficulties in regulating emotions, leading to more frequent searches for coping strategies. Playing computer games may be one of them. The results are consistent with the findings of previous studies showing that gaming addiction is associated with dysregulation.

Research also suggests a significant influence of outward-oriented thinking on both gaming addiction and active gaming. This thinking style is related to an orientation towards external stimuli or rewards. The gaming environment, in particular, contains many external stimuli, which is why people with this cognitive orientation may seek it out. But while externally oriented thinking is significantly higher in gaming addiction, it is lower in active non-problematic gaming.

Both gaming addiction and active gaming are associated with an increase in time spent gaming. However, the research team emphasizes that these are different gaming behaviors - this is suggested by the opposite association with alexithymia. It is, therefore, important to avoid over-pathologising frequent gaming. It is not always necessarily an addiction. On the other hand, a problem with emotional processing may be a phenomenon that helps to detect addiction early on and also suggests a supporting theme for the therapy of this disorder.

Recommended citation:

Blinka, L., Faltýnková, A., Rečka, K. (2024). Alexithymia in gaming addiction and engagement. Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 354, 104–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.060.

​Translated using DeepL.