A compensatory model to understand dysfunctional personality traits in problematic gaming: The role of vulnerable narcissism

Blasi, Maria Di; Giardina, Alessandro; Coco, Gianluca Lo; Giordano, Cecilia; Billieux, Joël; Schimmenti, Adriano

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2020.109921

Cited by 29 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Nevertheless, the role of narcissism in the prediction of geek behaviour has not been established in prior research, thus, our findings may give rise to a new line of research. The strong link between narcissism and geek behaviour may be explained by the "compensatory perspective", which suggest that online gaming might fulfil a compensatory purpose for narcissistic individuals with emotional dysregulation [66]. Regarding the role of body self-esteem, our results are less conclusive.…”

Section: Risk Factors Of Geek Behaviourcontrasting

confidence: 77%

Psychological Risk Factors that Predict Social Networking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Peris

Barrera

Schoeps

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Adolescents’ addictive use of social media and the internet is an increasing concern among parents, teachers, researchers and society. The purpose was to examine the contribution of body self-esteem, personality traits, and demographic factors in the prediction of adolescents’ addictive use of social media and the internet. The participants were 447 Spanish adolescents aged 13−16 years (M = 14.90, SD = 0.81, 56.2% women). We measured gender, age, body self-esteem (body satisfaction and physical attractiveness), personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, disinhibition and narcissism) and social networking and internet addiction (internet addiction symptoms, social media use, geek behaviour, and nomophobia). The effects of gender, age, body self-esteem and personality on the different dimensions of internet addiction were estimated, conducting hierarchical linear multiple regression analysis and a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results evidenced different pathways explaining four types of adolescents’ internet addiction: gender and disinhibition were the most relevant predictors of addiction symptoms; gender combined with physical attractiveness best explained social media use; narcissism and neuroticism appear to be the most relevant predictors of geek behaviour; and narcissism was the variable that best explained nomophobia. Furthermore, the advantages and differences between both methodologies (regressions vs. QCA) were discussed.

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Section: Risk Factors Of Geek Behaviourcontrasting

confidence: 77%

Psychological Risk Factors that Predict Social Networking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Peris

Barrera

Schoeps

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…According to Khantzian's self-medication hypothesis (36), substance addiction functions as a compensatory means to regulate emotional pain, dysphoria, anxiety, and stress, a hypothesis that was supported by empirical evidence (37). Similar support to the self-medication hypothesis has also been found for behavioral addictions, such as gambling (38) and gaming disorder (39). What is the impact of the COVID-19 threat on addictive disorders?…”

Section: Psychological Consequences Of Covid-19 On Individuals With Pmentioning

confidence: 84%

Heightened Levels of Maladaptive Daydreaming Are Associated With COVID-19 Lockdown, Pre-existing Psychiatric Diagnoses, and Intensified Psychological Dysfunctions: A Multi-country Study

et al. 2020

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading globally since December 2019, bringing with it anxieties, mortal risk, and agonizing psychological suffering. This study aimed to explore the relationship between maladaptive daydreaming (MD)-an addictive mental behavior to vivid fantasy associated with distress and functional impairment-and forced COVID-19 pandemic-related self-isolation and quarantine. Previous literature indicated that individuals employ MD for the regulation of distress and boredom, wish fulfillment, and entertainment experiences. The literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health identifies a flareup in psychological difficulties in the general population. In this study we explored the associations between the pandemic threat and mental health indices among individuals with MD. We surveyed 1,565 adults from over 70 countries who responded to calls for participants posted in online MD communities and other general social media sites. Probable MD was determined based on an empirically derived cutoff score on a pertinent measure. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, a series of MANCOVAs, followed by post-hoc ANCOVAs, revealed that individuals with probable MD who were observing lockdown restrictions reported having spent more time in fantasy, experienced more intense and vivid daydreaming, and had a stronger urge to daydream than other participants. Similar statistical procedures indicated that, individuals with probable MD who reported pre-existing anxiety and depression disorders described a greater urge to daydream due to the pandemic and greater difficulty to control this addictive behavior. Compared to individuals with likely normal daydreaming, individuals with suspected MD reported more pandemic-attributed deterioration on a wide array of psychological distress indices. Our data show that the current worldwide pandemic threat is connected with an elevated intensity of this addictive form of mental activity, Somer et al. Maladaptive Daydreaming and COVID-19 and that MD is associated with the exacerbation of psychological distress and dysfunction rather than with beneficial regulation of the experienced stressor.

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“…Snodgrass et al ( 2018 ) go further to suggest that the outcomes for lonely players might depend on how they play—during regular intensive online play, they have the opportunity to bond with others; however, more casual online play may not allow them to signal their mastery, making them less likely to connect socially and thus reinforcing their loneliness. Further, Di Blasi et al ( 2020 ) demonstrate that problematic WoW playing can be a compensatory response for unfulfilled needs, devalued inner selves, or coping with painful mental states for players with vulnerable narcissism. Although Kowert et al ( 2015 ), Snodgrass et al ( 2018 ), and Di Blasi et al ( 2020 ) do not consider passion for gaming, their general findings are consistent with those of Lalande et al ( 2017 ) and Przybylski et al ( 2009 ) in that problematic game use is not simply a factor of game dosage or gaming interest, but is dependent on the gamer's wellbeing outside of the gaming context.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, Di Blasi et al ( 2020 ) demonstrate that problematic WoW playing can be a compensatory response for unfulfilled needs, devalued inner selves, or coping with painful mental states for players with vulnerable narcissism. Although Kowert et al ( 2015 ), Snodgrass et al ( 2018 ), and Di Blasi et al ( 2020 ) do not consider passion for gaming, their general findings are consistent with those of Lalande et al ( 2017 ) and Przybylski et al ( 2009 ) in that problematic game use is not simply a factor of game dosage or gaming interest, but is dependent on the gamer's wellbeing outside of the gaming context. Players are more likely to develop obsessive passion when they rely too heavily on a single context (such as videogames) to satisfy their needs (Lalande et al, 2017 )—our findings support that where problematic play is occurring (in terms of harmful effects on social connectedness), we should seek to increase harmonious passion and reduce obsessive passion, which may be possible by introducing players to alternative sources of need satisfaction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As noted in the discussion on obsessive passion as a compensatory response, it might be possible that our results were affected by external factors that lead to different types of passion for play. In the context of problematic gaming, factors such as demography, life circumstances, or even underlying personality disorders (Di Blasi et al, 2020 ) or mental health concerns, such as anxiety or depression (Mandryk and Birk, 2017 ), have demonstrated relevance. As such, future research that investigates how passion for games is built will help further understand how passion interacts with other individual characteristics, underlying pathologies, and contexts to affect the outcome of play.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How Passion for Playing World of Warcraft Predicts In-Game Social Capital, Loneliness, and Wellbeing

et al. 2020

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Playing digital games can nurture wellbeing by helping players recover from daily stressors, cope with life's challenges, practice emotion regulation, and engage in meaningful social interaction; however, this same leisure activity can also result in problematic gaming (i.e., harmful play at the expense of healthy behaviors), and social isolation that damages wellbeing. Research consistently demonstrates that the value or harm of gaming on wellbeing cannot be determined solely from whether and how much people play, but rather depends on contingent factors related to the player, the game, and the gaming context. In this paper, we aim to model contingent factors that differentiate between beneficial and harmful outcomes within players of the same massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). We model how passion for gaming-defined as a strong desire to engage in a beloved activity that is enjoyed and valued, in which time and energy is invested, and that ultimately integrates into a person's identity-affects loneliness and wellbeing. We employ the dualistic model that divides passion into harmonious passion (HP)-characterized by a balanced and authentic relationship with the beloved activity, and obsessive passion (OP)-characterized by preoccupation and inflexible persistence toward the loved activity. We sampled 300 frequent World of Warcraft (WoW) players, recruited from online forums, and used structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the effects of their passion for playing WoW on in-game social capital, loneliness, and wellbeing. We demonstrate that HP for playing WoW facilitates in-game social capital (both bridging and bonding), combats loneliness, and increases wellbeing, whereas OP also builds social capital, but these social ties do not combat loneliness, and OP is directly associated with increased loneliness. Further, the positive effect of HP on wellbeing is mediated through an increase in bonding social capital and a resulting decrease in loneliness. Our findings highlight that passion orientation is important for characterizing the relationship between gaming and wellbeing. We contribute to the conversation on combating problematic gaming, while also promoting digital gaming as an appealing leisure activity that provides enjoyment, recovery, and meaningful social interaction for the millions of gamers who benefit from its captivation.

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A compensatory model to understand dysfunctional personality traits in problematic gaming: The role of vulnerable narcissism

Cited by 29 publications

References 41 publications

Psychological Risk Factors that Predict Social Networking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Psychological Risk Factors that Predict Social Networking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Heightened Levels of Maladaptive Daydreaming Are Associated With COVID-19 Lockdown, Pre-existing Psychiatric Diagnoses, and Intensified Psychological Dysfunctions: A Multi-country Study

How Passion for Playing World of Warcraft Predicts In-Game Social Capital, Loneliness, and Wellbeing

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