The Need for a Competing Interest | Episode 008 Video Game Addiction

Summary

The video script delves into the challenge of overcoming gaming addiction by emphasizing the need for a 'competing interest'. It suggests that addictions, such as gaming, are hard to quit without a compelling alternative that holds significance in one's life. Drawing on examples from other addictions and a New York real estate story, the speaker illustrates the power of advocating for something positive to replace the unwanted behavior. The script encourages gamers to identify and pursue a genuine interest that can motivate them to curb their gaming habits, thus creating a tangible cost to their gaming and driving behavioral change.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Understanding addiction involves recognizing that it serves a purpose in a person's life, such as managing stress or negative emotions.
• 🚫 Overcoming addiction is not just about avoiding negative consequences but finding a competing interest that can replace the addictive behavior.
• 🌳 The story of a community fighting against real estate development by advocating for a park illustrates the power of creating a competing interest to achieve a goal.
• 🎮 For gamers, developing a competing interest is crucial to control gaming habits and avoid addiction.
• 💡 A competing interest is something that a person genuinely cares about and is willing to act upon, unlike mere desires which do not drive behavior change.
• 🔍 Identifying what you truly care about is essential in developing a competing interest that can help you resist the urge to game excessively.
• 💰 The concept of a tangible cost or benefit associated with not gaming can be a powerful motivator for change.
• 🌟 Real motivators are those that affect a person's behavior and emotions, not just abstract ideas or future goals.
• 🏃‍♂️ Finding a competing interest can help you 'put your chips on the table,' making you more invested in the outcome and more likely to change your behavior.
• 🔄 The process of developing a competing interest involves a shift from passive desires to active engagement with something that truly matters to you.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the discussion in the provided transcript?

The main focus is on understanding how to gain control over gaming addiction, the importance of developing a competing interest to overcome addiction, and the psychological aspects of addiction and motivation.

Why is it difficult to overcome an addiction without a competing interest?

It's difficult because the addictive substance or behavior often serves an important purpose in an individual's life, such as managing stress or negative emotions, and simply being aware of the negative consequences is not enough to change behavior.

What is an example of a competing interest in the context of smoking marijuana?

A competing interest could be the desire to see one's daughter get married, meet grandchildren, or watch them go to college, which are personal and emotional reasons that can motivate someone to quit smoking.

What is the story of the real estate development in New York and how does it relate to the concept of competing interests?

The story illustrates how a community opposed a real estate development by advocating for a park instead. This approach gained more support and ultimately led to the creation of the park, demonstrating the power of offering a competing interest to block an unwanted outcome.

What is the difference between a desire and a competing interest according to the transcript?

A desire is a general wish or goal, like wanting to be rich or get a job, which doesn't necessarily drive behavior. A competing interest, on the other hand, is something that an individual deeply cares about and is willing to take action for, which can influence behavior.

How does the concept of 'having something to lose' relate to changing behavior in the context of gaming addiction?

Having something to lose creates a tangible cost to the addictive behavior, which can motivate individuals to change their behavior. For example, if there's a real consequence to gaming, like losing money or a significant life event, it can provide the necessary incentive to stop.

What is the speaker's suggestion for gamers who want to stop gaming but feel stuck?

The speaker suggests that gamers need to develop a competing interest that they genuinely care about, which will provide a reason to not game and create a cost to gaming that can influence their behavior.

Why do desires alone not effectively motivate someone to change their behavior?

Desires alone are not strong enough motivators because they lack the emotional connection and personal investment that a competing interest provides. They don't create an immediate cost or consequence that can drive behavior change.

What is the significance of the story about the park in New York for individuals struggling with gaming addiction?

The story shows that advocating for something positive (a park) can be more effective than simply opposing something negative (real estate development). For gamers, this means developing a positive, competing interest that can help them overcome their addiction.

How can the concept of competing interests be applied to other areas of life besides gaming addiction?

The concept can be applied to any situation where a change in behavior is desired. By identifying and investing in a competing interest that is personally meaningful, individuals can find the motivation to overcome other addictions or unhealthy habits.

What is the speaker's advice for the next steps after identifying the need for a competing interest?

The speaker suggests that after identifying the need for a competing interest, individuals should work on developing it further. They mention taking a short break and then continuing the discussion on how to go about developing a competing interest.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Overcoming Gaming Addiction with Competing Interests

The speaker discusses the challenges of controlling gaming habits and emphasizes the importance of developing a competing interest to overcome addiction. They explain that simply knowing the negative consequences of gaming is not enough to change behavior. Instead, individuals need a strong, alternative motivation that they genuinely care about. The speaker uses the analogy of a real estate development project in New York, where community members successfully opposed a high-rise by advocating for a park, illustrating the power of competition in influencing change. The key takeaway is that gamers need to identify a compelling reason to stop gaming, something that they truly value and would lose if they continue their gaming habits.

05:02

💰 The Power of Competing Interests in Changing Behavior

In this paragraph, the speaker delves deeper into the concept of competing interests, using the example of a person addicted to smoking. They argue that while knowledge of health risks may not motivate change, personal desires and interests can. The speaker challenges the common misconception that desires are enough to drive behavior change, highlighting the need for a tangible, compelling interest. They explain that the cost of gaming must be immediate and tangible, not just a distant consequence. The speaker suggests that gamers need to find something they care about deeply, something that would be lost if they continued gaming, to effectively combat their addiction. The discussion underscores the importance of identifying and nurturing a competing interest to make a real impact on behavior.

Keywords

💡Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, which includes the brain and its functions. In the context of the video, it is discussed in relation to gaming to understand how the brain responds to gaming and how it can influence behaviors and addiction. The script mentions 'the neuroscience of gaming' to emphasize the importance of understanding the brain's role in gaming habits.

💡Addiction

Addiction refers to a compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences. The video script discusses overcoming gaming addiction by developing a competing interest. It highlights the difficulty of quitting an addictive substance or behavior, such as gaming, without finding an alternative activity that serves the same purpose in one's life.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the drive or desire to achieve a goal. The script talks about activating motivation to gain control over gaming. It suggests that finding a competing interest can help motivate individuals to reduce or stop gaming by giving them a reason to prioritize other activities over gaming.

💡Competing Interest

A competing interest is an alternative activity or pursuit that can replace or reduce the time spent on an addictive behavior. The video emphasizes the importance of finding a competing interest to overcome gaming addiction, as it provides a tangible reason to stop gaming and a cost to the behavior.

💡Emotions

Emotions are complex psychological states that can influence behavior and decision-making. The script mentions aligning emotions with actions to gain control over gaming, suggesting that understanding and managing one's emotional responses to gaming can be a key factor in overcoming addiction.

💡Laziness

Laziness is the quality of being unwilling to work or use energy. In the script, it is presented as a barrier to overcoming gaming addiction. The speaker suggests that developing a competing interest can help overcome laziness by providing a more appealing alternative to gaming.

💡Desire

Desire refers to a strong feeling of wanting to achieve something. The video script differentiates between desires and motivators, stating that while desires are aspirations, they do not necessarily drive behavior change. A competing interest, on the other hand, is something that one truly cares about and can motivate action.

💡Behavior Change

Behavior change involves modifying one's actions or habits. The script discusses the need for behavior change in the context of overcoming gaming addiction, suggesting that developing a competing interest is a key strategy for achieving this change.

💡Cost

In the context of the video, cost refers to the negative consequences or losses associated with a behavior. The script explains that to stop gaming, there must be a 'cost' or a tangible loss that one experiences by continuing to game, which can motivate them to change their behavior.

💡Real Estate Development

This term is used in the script as an analogy to explain the concept of competing interests. The story of a community opposing a real estate development by advocating for a park instead illustrates the power of offering an alternative that can gain more support and effectively block the undesired outcome.

💡Park Advocacy

Park advocacy in the script serves as an example of creating a competing interest. The社区居民 advocating for a park instead of opposing a high-rise development shows how developing an alternative vision can be more effective in influencing outcomes and is used to draw a parallel with finding a competing interest to gaming.

Highlights

Understanding the importance of competing interests to overcome addiction.

The role of addiction in managing stress and negative emotions.

The challenge of quitting substances without a competing interest.

An analogy of real estate development to illustrate the concept of competing interests.

The Upper West Side story of community resistance and the power of advocating for a park.

The psychological principle that blocking something requires a replacement.

The need for gamers to develop a competing interest to control gaming habits.

The difference between desires and motivators in changing behavior.

The importance of tangible costs and benefits in influencing behavior.

How a competing interest can create a real cost to gaming.

The automatic behavioral change when there's something to lose.

The distinction between having desires and having a competing interest.

The ineffectiveness of desires alone in prompting behavioral change.

The necessity of developing a competing interest to gain control over gaming.

The upcoming discussion on how to develop a competing interest after the break.

Transcripts

we've talked some about the neuroscience

of gaming we've talked some about

emotions we've talked to about a couple

of introductory topics around gaming and

what I'd like to talk about now is how

you start actually getting control of

your gaming and how it is that you can

activate your motivation you can

overcome some of that laziness you can

sort of get your emotions in line

there's some concrete things that you

can do to get control of your gaming and

the first of those is to understand that

you can't overcome an addiction without

a competing interest if we think a

little bit about so I mostly work with

people who have problems with other

addictions like alcohol or opiates or

things like xanax or marijuana and for a

lot of them the the substance that they

use serves a very important purpose in

their life it helps them manage stress

it helps them kind of decompress a

little bit it helps them manage their

negative emotions and it's really hard

to just get them to quit it's not enough

to tell someone hey you know you're

gonna if you keep on drinking you're

gonna get liver cancer and you'll die

early or you'll have an increased risk

of heart disease in order to really get

them to stop drinking and this is

especially true actually less of Meral I

mean alcohol but the most true of

marijuana you have to help them develop

a competing interest and so what I mean

by that is let's take an example of

someone who smokes marijuana that person

is gonna be smoking and they feel like

marijuana helps them deal with their

anxiety it makes them feel like they're

themselves for the first time like

they're not so much in their head and it

makes them feel really good and so for

something that's so awesome like

something that makes you feel

comfortable

it's really hard to just give that up

and so in order to help that person give

that up what we have to work on is

finding what I call a competing interest

so I'd like to tell you guys kind of a

random story so when I was studying

Public Health I heard a really

interesting story about a real estate

development project in New York and this

was kind of in in the Upper West Side of

New York like 30 or 40 years ago there

was

real estate developer that wanted to

come in and sort of buy up a bunch of

property and then turn it into like a

high-rise and so the people who lived in

that community didn't want that real

estate developer to come in and buy that

property and so what they did is they

went to these town council meetings and

stuff and they protested and they said

we don't want that real estate developer

to develop this land we don't want it to

happen we don't want it to happen we

don't want it to happen and despite all

of their protests the real estate

development started moving forward and

then finally one guy came up with the

idea or a girl I think actually it was a

woman but one person came up with the

idea that instead of saying no to the

real estate development what they

started doing is saying we actually want

a part instead instead of actually

opposing the real estate development

what they did is create some competition

and they said we want to devote this

area of our part of New York City to

building a park and something magical

happened when they started advocating

for a park instead of trying to block

the real estate development the more

that they advocated for the park it

seemed to get traction and other people

in the community were like wow wouldn't

it be awesome to have a park here

instead of a high-rise and they were

able to get a lot more support for it

and ended up blocking the real estate

development and building a park instead

and so if we look at that story I mean

it sounds like it's completely unrelated

but I think it speaks to this basic

human psychology that in order to to

block something you actually have to

replace it you can't just stop it and so

for gamers the first thing that you guys

need to do is come up with a competing

interest so you have to have a reason to

not game and I would argue that most of

you guys when I ask you guys do you want

to stop gaming you'll say yes I want to

stop gaming and I'll ask you why do you

want to stop gaming and you'll say well

because I need to get a job or because I

I need to move out of the house or

because I'm not moving forward in life

and all of those things are true but

they're not really a competing interest

getting a job in being financially

independent or just things that you want

you don't actually care about them they

don't drive you to do things they don't

affect your behavior

they're just desires

and desires and motivators are actually

different things a competing interest is

something that you actually care about

it's like earlier when I was talking

about the guy who's smoking if I want

him to stop smoking I can't tell him

about lung cancer so if I have a guy

who's smoking and I try to get him to

quit smoking I say oh if you smoke

you're gonna get heart disease you're

gonna die of a heart attack you're gonna

die of a stroke you're gonna get lung

cancer you're gonna be wheeling around

an oxygen tank you're not gonna be able

to breathe you're not gonna be able to

climb stairs and all of those things are

absolutely true and he doesn't want any

of those things to happen but none of

that information actually changes his

behavior he doesn't actually stop

smoking irrespective of how much he

wants to avoid lung cancer what gets

that person to change is actually

something that they care about a real

competing interest what I what I'd ask

that person is do you ever want to see

your daughter get married do you want to

ever meet your grandkids do you want to

see your grandkids go to college those

are things that that person cares about

and those are things that are competing

interests and when you develop a

competing interest that helps you

actually fight against the gaming

addiction because then you have

something that actually gets lost if you

choose to continue gaming you have a

real cost to gaming whereas right now

you don't really have a cost to gaming

sure you don't move forward in life but

tomorrow is not gonna be any different

you're not gonna be out on the street if

you play video games all day today

you're not gonna die of hunger tomorrow

if you play video games all day you're

not gonna die alone if you play video

games all day now you will die alone if

you play video games for the rest of

your life but for tomorrow there's

actually no cost to playing video games

all day and you guys really have to

understand that that in order for you to

stop gaming there has to be a cost today

there has to be something that you lose

today by gaming today and developing

understanding that requires you to

develop a competing interest and once

you develop a competing interest then

you actually have skin in the game you

you put your you've kind of gone all-in

you're putting chips on the table

you're actually betting something you

have something to lose and the

interesting thing is that once you have

something to lose that's gonna change

your behavior automatically if I were to

tell you if you play video games

tomorrow I'm gonna shoot you in the face

and here's a handgun you're not gonna

play video games tomorrow you're just

not going to do it because it actually

has a cost if I tell you here's $1,000

if you play World of Warcraft tomorrow

I'm not going to give it to you

but if you don't play World of Warcraft

tomorrow I will give it to you that

person is not going to play World of

Warcraft because there's a tangible cost

there is a competing interest there's

something that they actually gain by not

gaming in the subtle problem that gamers

face is that they think they have a

competing interest because what they

root but what they really have is

desires they have a desire they're like

yeah I want to be rich that's like I

want to be rich to like everyone on the

street wants to be rich it doesn't

actually cause them to change their

behavior so if you actually want to get

control over your gaming the first thing

you need to do is develop a competing

interest and we'll take a short break

but when we get back we'll talk a little

bit about how to go about doing that