Escape into virtuality: how gamers leave uncomfortable reality

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34680/EISCRT-2026-1(14)-239-279

Keywords:

gambling addiction, schizoid personality traits, psychopathology, cognitive distortions, schizotypy, addiction, virtual reality

Abstract

The article compares the results of an empirical study of the personality characteristics of gambling addicts and clinical observations of cases of patients suffering from schizophrenia. The relationship between schizotypy, cognitive distortions associated with gambling, and levels of problematic gambling addiction has been theoretically proven. The analyzed study involved 40 young people (20 boys and 20 girls aged 16 to 28 years) who are regular visitors to gaming computer clubs in Dubna, Moscow region. 26 study participants devoted more than three hours a day to such games. Although the sample in this study is relatively small, these are the very players who sought to join a computer gaming club during the restrictions associated with the COVID19 pandemic. That is, they were not completely "legal", but very persistent and motivated players. According to the results of an empirical study, for the averaged MMPI profiles, differences were found between gamblers and study participants in the schizoid control group at the trend level. The main result of empirical research lies precisely in the schizoid nature of gambling addicts. This result is also confirmed by clinical experience, namely the results of pathopsychological diagnostics and psychological counseling. Schizoids leave the uncomfortable real world for a much more attractive virtual world. At the same time, it is precisely new technologies that offer new opportunities for gaming or other virtual communication, which they have never had before in the history of mankind.

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Author Biography

Sofya Tarasova, Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research (Psychological Institute), Alvian Psychotherapy Center, Moscow, Russia

Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Differential Psychology and Psychophysiology
e-mail: syutarasov@yandex.ru

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Published

2026-03-26

How to Cite

Tarasova, S. (2026). Escape into virtuality: how gamers leave uncomfortable reality. Experience Industries. Socio-Cultural Research Technologies, 1 (14), 239–279. https://doi.org/10.34680/EISCRT-2026-1(14)-239-279

Issue

No. 1 (14) (2026): Experience industries. Socio-Cultural Research Technologies

Section

Horizons