L'addiction au virtuel: Une présence sans absence

Abstract

This paper examines addiction to on-line video games and especially to Mmorpg(massive multiplayers on-line role playing games). Inspired by the observations of addiction treatment centres, we have elaborated this new form of dependence which is related to the adolescent process and the problematic separation embedded in it. Virtual games, for the dependent player, are a « transitory object» (Mc Dougall) and manifest themselves through a non-socialistic socialization, a game without any risk and an anti-depressive struggle. In conclusion, addiction to virtual games has become a real barrier for the second process of separation-individuation (P. Blos) which is built during adolescence. We can describe this addiction as a result of the conservation of morbid ties of the subject with his infantile objects, hindering thus the adolescent process and his future. © De Boeck Universite.