Videogame Playing and Psychopathology

The popular press has suggested that video games may cause psychopathology. This study examined the relationship of videogame playing and several psychopathologies. This study found that high-rate videogame playing was not related to neuroticism, several measures of conduct disorders or other measures of pathology measured in this study. Frequent videogame players do not act out more often or have more drug- or school-related problems than infrequent players. Frequent players did seem to be more extraverted and to be less achievement-oriented than infrequent players. Videogame playing is probably an escapist or fun activity and did not seem to be related to psychopathology.