Reflective Control in Gaming Addiction: A Paradox?

Gaming addiction disrupts reflective awareness, attentional control, and selfhood in a way that differs from other addictions: reflective control remains intact but becomes misaligned, confined to gaming while failing to extend to broader life concerns. The study integrates Husserl's active and passive synthesis, Heidegger's existential structures, and Arvidson's conceptualization of attention to argue that this misalignment indicates a disruption in Husserlian synthesis, the existential projection of Dasein, and attentional transformation. Understanding this interplay can inform therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring reflective flexibility and self-directed transformation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Gaming addiction is a complex phenomenon that extends beyond behavioral reinforcement and neurochemical dysregulation. This study adopts a phenomenological approach, integrating Husserl’s active and passive synthesis with Heidegger’s existential structures and Arvidson’s conceptualization of attention, to explore how gaming addiction reshapes reflective awareness, attentional control and selfhood. Unlike other forms of addiction, gaming addiction presents a paradox: reflective control appears to remain intact but becomes misaligned, confined to the gaming environment while failing to extend to broader life concerns. This misalignment suggests a disruption in the Husserlian synthesis, in the existential projection of Dasein, and in Arvidson’s attentional transformation. By integrating phenomenology into addiction research, the study examines how gaming addiction disrupts reflective processing, selfhood and temporality. Understanding this interplay can inform therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring reflective flexibility and self-directed transformation.