IM Jack Rudd wrote:matt_ward wrote:Gavin Strachan wrote:chess is not an addiction though it can be addictive.
Gavin, does this not contradict yourself and the whole thread?
It does not. The point I think he is trying to make is that calling chess an addiction is a category error; an addiction is the state or quality of being addicted to something, not the thing you are addicted to itself.
"Historically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances (for example alcohol, tobacco, heroin and other drugs) which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.
Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity despite the negative consequences associated with it. Pleasure and enjoyment would have originally been sought, however over a period of time involvement with the substance or activity is needed to feel normal. Some psychology professionals and many laymen now mean 'addiction' to include abnormal psychological dependency on such things as gambling, food, sex, pornography, computers, internet, work, exercise, idolizing, watching TV or certain types of non-pornographic videos, spiritual obsession, cutting and shopping."
Wikipedia definition.
Although chess has some of the properties of being addictive it probably isn't fully fledge addictive as firstly it has not been scientifically proven - no real case studies out there that I know of. Also, someone who plays chess a lot and is seen as an addict is probably not dependent on it and could potentially seek other forms of entertainment to satisfy themselves with. So in conclusion: chess is just mildly addictive like chocolate. People who play games in general a lot (like 10+hrs a day) could well be seen as addicts though inherently will most likely have some other underlying psychological issue.
and Jack is right as well.
Re: Is Chess an addiction?
