Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the motives for playing onlinegames (MMORPG) in players whose behaviour showssymptoms of addiction to the Internet, the reasons whichlead the players to reduce their playing, and how sucha reduction takes place. DESIGN: Qualitative study.METHOD: Content analysis of semi-structured interviewsfocused on the motivation for and the developmentof online playing.
PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen players of onlinegames (4 women and 12 men) aged 15 to 33 yearswhose behaviour shows symptoms of addiction to the Internet.RESULTS: The motives for online gaming reportedby the players included escapism, self-realisation, socialisation,and coping with boredom. The motivation foronline playing changed dynamically with time.
The motivesfor the reduction of online playing reported by participantsincluded their realising that they have beenabsorbed by the game, health problems, impulses fromtheir environment, and impulses from the game. Strategiesthat the players chose to reduce online gaming were dividedinto two basic groups: a gradual reduction with replacementby another online application with a "safer profile" and uninstalling the game from the user's computer.CONCLUSION: The results of motivation for online playingconfirm the findings of foreign studies and expand thecategory with the completely new motive of playing onlinegames for professional growth.
This study also mapsout new reasons for limiting online gaming and how suchreductions occurred.