ADDICTION
Rational choice theorists suggest that addicts attempts to maximize the use of their
pleasure. In other words, potential addicts are capable of making rational choices wether
to use addictive commodities or not. This paper has the purpose to explain why addictive
behavior is not rational and the intention to determine the facts and factors of addiction
using the Rational Choice Theory. The advocates and critics of rational choice theory
emphasizes that RCT is a psychological, individualistic and reductionist. Rational choice
is the choice in which actors choose the best available alternative, based on their desires
and beliefs.
As video games become a more popular to the extent to which they can and should be
considered addictive has become controversial. While some studies indicate a connection
between playing video games and increased aggression and violence in the real world,
others found a relationship between playing video games and better creativity, productivity,
and mental wellness. Ultimately, as with any consumption good, too much can be harmful
and there are several cases in which playing video games has lead to death.
People are fully rational and future-oriented, and in a case of cigarette addiction they make
decisions about their consumption based on their understanding of how those decisions
will affect that consumption's worth in the future. The degree to which past and future
consumption have an impact on current consumption determines wether or not something
is considered addictive.And if we analyze video games addiction using a rational addiction
model, a video game differs from traditional consumption goods in a number of significant
ways. First, unlike the purchase of a pack of cigarettes, time spent playing a video game
typically does not have a huge monetary cost. Once an individual has purchased the game,
the relevant cost of playing for an hour is the opportunity cost or the value of what that
hour of entertainment could have been spent on instead. Second, the value an individual
receives from playing a video game is dynamic and may depend on his performance in that
game. If he does poorly at the game he may enjoy it less. The value an individual gets from
playing today depends on the amount an individual played in the past, while the amount
the individual plays today affects the amount he chooses to play in the future.
But how can we identify and characterize individual addiction? While video games shows
an evidence of rational addiction, this does not mean that all individuals who play online
games are addicted. In the case of drug and alcohol abuse, typically one of the features of
addiction is less social participation. In this case, since an online video game involves
social interactions, addiction leads to greater rather than less social interaction.
In conclusion, we make decisions base on our own understanding of wether it will affect
our future, but our past and future views identify our present behavior and determines our
present state; it is either we get addicted or not. And for me we have an ability to choose if
we want to start or not, we also have a choice if we will continue or not but the choices
ends when the only choices you consider is to continue because it's good or to continue
because you thought you need it. And once it happens you will know that the rationality
you thought you have will slip away from you, because I believe there is no rationality in
addiction.
BARBIELLE C. AZUELA
11- HOLY ROSARY
DISS