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Background:
This test helps a gamer see how his/her gaming fits
in with other life priorities.
Use this test with children, teens, and adults to
help them form a more realistic picture of their attachment
to gaming.
A true-life priority needs three ingredients: thought,
feeling, and behavior. Only one or two ingredients
does not make a priority.
For example, I may think that I value education,
but then never study. Education is only a priority
if I feel motivated and then act on it. Conversely,
behavior alone does not necessarily mean something
is a priority. For example, I may show up at a place
of worship regularly so the behavior indicates that
I value my religion. However, the real reason I show
up is because I think it will make me look good in
the eyes of my boss who attends the service regularly.
Helping a person form an honest picture of his/her
life priorities involves assessing which activities
are those where thinking, feeling, and behavior come
together.
"I'd Rather" Test:
1. With this background in mind ask the gamer you are
concerned about to write down a list of all the things
they do during the course of a week. The list usually
includes things like eating, sleeping, spending time
with family, playing a sport, engaging in a hobby, school
and/or work, chores, going to movies, studying, hanging
out with friends, etc.
2. Then have the gamer check as many of the following
statements he/she thinks are true.
True
I'd rather play games than hang out with my
friends.
I'd rather play games than play any sports.
I'd rather play games than spend time with my
family.
I'd rather play games than eat.
I'd rather play games than sleep.
I'd rather play games than talk on the phone.
I'd rather play games than go to school or
work.
I'd rather play games than go to a movie.
I'd rather play games than watch TV.
I'd rather play games than watch TV.
I'd rather play games than listening to music.
I'd rather play games than exercise.
Now, list the things you'd rather
do than play video games.
1.__________________________________________
2.__________________________________________
3.__________________________________________
If you have trouble thinking of things you'd
rather do than play video games, they may have
become the most important priority in your life.
This could be the start of a slippery slope
to video game addiction.
Background:
