Study: Gamers show autistic traits

  • By Polybren, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 5, 2008 6:37 am AEST

It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that gamers whose habits border on the realm of addiction are likely to be a little neurotic, introverted, and socially disagreeable. However, it does take a scientist (a pair of them, actually) to survey hundreds of gamers, find the same traits, and then...

It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that gamers whose habits border on the realm of addiction are likely to be a little neurotic, introverted, and socially disagreeable. However, it does take a scientist (a pair of them, actually) to survey hundreds of gamers, find the same traits, and then point out that the same characteristics can be found in people with the developmental disorder Asperger syndrome.

Dr. John Charlton of England's University of Bolton and Ian Danforth of Walla Walla, Washington's Whitman College jointly announced their findings at the British Psychological Society's annual conference in Dublin, Ireland, yesterday, saying that the closer gamers were to being addicted to their hobby, the more likely they were to display "negative personality traits." Specifically, the pair spotted increased neuroticism, lack of extraversion, and lack of agreeableness.

"The thinking in the field is that there is a scale along which people, even those considered to be 'normal,' can be placed upon," Charlton said in a statement. "And that people such as engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists are nearer to the nonempathising, systemising end of the spectrum, with people with Asperger syndrome even further along again. Our research supports the idea that people who are heavily involved in game playing may be nearer to autistic spectrum disorders than people who have no interest in gaming."

The researchers surveyed 391 gamers, 86 percent of whom were male.

190 Comments

  • psduckie

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 2:35 pm PT

    I have Asperger's syndrome and would classify myself as addicted to MMORPGs. What I would also like to say is that MMOs have really helped me work around some of the social difficulties of Asperger's. In addition, I never drink, smoke, or use drugs because I feel it would mess up my game. I even have learned how to use the games to gauge the severity of the symptoms!

  • hgarner2000

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    Some with Aspergers play, some don't. Some are so far down the spectrum that they couldn't play even if they wanted to.

  • Lostfile

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 7:22 am PT

    Well, that would make sense why my girlfriend is jealous of my 360. :-P

  • Buyugold

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 10:58 pm PT

    I ares nots autistic

  • KBABZ

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 9:49 pm PT

    I'm the very defiance of this study. I has Asperger's, I've played video games day and night nearly every day since I was 8 (discounting things like going to a friend's or a holiday) and I am on the milder scale of the spectrum. Furthermore, my personality is extroverted if anything else. I love expressing myself and sharing ideas and all that sort of stuff.

  • kratos_karmakar

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 6:38 pm PT

    o yea!!! im so very autistic!!
    any 1 asks me how im doing. ill just say ." o im feeling fantastically autistic. how bout u?"

  • McDog3

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 6:09 pm PT

    Give me a break, you could just as easily twist it around to say "people who display more autistic traits more likely to be addicted to videogames". One short survey experiment proves actual squat, and to generalize this information from 300 some people, is also very irrational.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 4:31 pm PT

    in others news, a 500% rise of crack smoking among graduate researchers has been reported

  • christopherneal

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 4:22 pm PT

    Would someone please wake me when this is over? Zzzzzzzz.

  • gr8jedimaster

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 2:57 pm PT

    neuroticism, lack of extraversion, and lack of agreeableness

    These are "negative" traits? These traits are the reason I get respect and have some cool friends. I don't blend in with the boring, "normal" people in society; "the herds" as I like to call them. I only have a couple friends and that's how I like it.

    All this crap coming from scientists who probably spend 12-16 hours a day isolated in a lab. Yeah, they have the right to say what's normal. LOL.

    neuroticism, lack of extraversion, and lack of agreeableness

    So, if these are "negative" traits then I guess being happy all the time, making a fool out of yourself in front of groups of people, and being passive is considered positive and the norm.

  • JoeSSJ3

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 2:02 pm PT

    Who honestly pays for these studies? :O

  • PacoL250

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 1:13 pm PT

    Where's the report? Most of the comments here are biased because most of us haven't read the report.

    Also, 391 is a small sample size for a study that should take a longer time than this to do.

    I can see the connections, but only when there is the extreme; where one does little else besides gaming (e.g. WoW addicts).

  • Gigagamer2

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 10:21 am PT

    i dont game often but when i used to binge more than i should have i would feel kind of dazed and weird for a little while after, so im guessin major time on these mm's cant be good - moderation!

  • tclvis

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 9:51 am PT

    So if I play a game with a story, I'm exhibiting autistic tendencies, especially if some inconsiderate moron walks in front of the screen. But when in a chair engrossed in reading a book and didn't want to be bothered, that is "normal." Okay. Thanks for clearing that up.

  • dark13string

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 9:31 am PT

    so what if some one is anti-social they are autistic????? this article has no really info to support it. mmm i smell a smear campaign

  • kontaktin

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 8:48 am PT

    I know a guy who plays for 7 hours a day, and has done it for many years now. Nothing

  • bardkieran

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 8:39 am PT

    translation: "We took a bunch of gamers and tried to have a conversation with them while they were playing Halo 3 on XBLive. Oddly, they didn't seem to respond much to our conversations."

    Yeah, same thing tends to happen with people reading the newspaper or watching a movie.

    New findings have shown that all people who play videogames, read newspapers, watch movies, or in any other way busy, have autisim.

    Morons, the lot of them. Just another reason why science can be absolutely useless.

  • atopp399

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 8:37 am PT

    I wonder who funded the research

  • tworkma

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 8:33 am PT

    Most good samples involve 10,000 people or more. Perhaps there is something to what they have found, but the small size of their sample is a red flag. I suppose it's like anything else, too much of a good thing can be harmful. I'm guilty like the rest of you.

  • 6h05tly

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 8:21 am PT

    I have autism and this study didn't surprise me that much. But it puzzles me why they had to experimented this on video games

  • hunter8man

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 7:35 am PT

    Who exactly decides what is or is not normal? I see nothing wrong with people who would rather stay inside and play games with their free time instead of going out every night on the town partying. That doesn't mean I'm showing signs of a syndrome. This is just another bit of "research" to give gaming a negative connotation in the eyes of the public. It's getting really old people.

  • zorn99

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 6:40 am PT

    Who the *$@# are you callin' disagreeable?

  • Raghall

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 6:26 am PT

    Great another stupid group of ''perfesionals'' out to rant about one of the most popular (and aggravateing for gamers i.e. everybody here) topic....and that would be saying ``Video games are ruining our youth, our society, and our morals`` Now I think that whole statemet is a major load of Bull $^!+ I`m an avid gamer and i think those haters can go to Hell

  • dwilson65

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 5:48 am PT

    Don't pick on me (taps side of head with fist)

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 5:21 am PT

    Hmm...I have asperger's syndrome and I'm not addicted to games as I was before.

  • Santhin

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 4:51 am PT

    Who the heck went out and decided what 'normal' was anyways? Is it normal to get drunk on friday, paw at random girls half your age in a bar, and then wrap your car around a tree? You can say that gamers think a certain way or have certain traits, but trying to make a 'normal' scale is just ludicrous.

  • sieg6529

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 4:11 am PT

    oh no. oh no. definitely not good. no. definitely bad, very bad. hot water burn baby!

  • raverrozza

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 3:27 am PT

    its called being a NERD!!!lol!

  • sakuranoame

    Posted Apr 7, 2008 2:19 am PT

    What? I don't believe this. I had zero interest in games a few years back when I was in high school. I even hated video games. I think the theory only applies to very few individuals.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 6:51 pm PT

    "Specifically, the pair spotted increased neuroticism, lack of extroversion, and lack of agreeableness." -I also find this to be true of people who watch a lot of TV.

  • dn3datomiced

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 11:45 am PT

    Bah. I'm 90% sure I have Asperger's and video games are my 'specialty' focus. They have been since I was about 3 or 4. Of course, I was born before they could diagnose such things.

    Now that I'm an adult, I have been able to adapt to being more like everyone else, but I still have difficulties with social appropriateness, memory retention, and focus. I probably have ADD on the side.

    My point is this: I think people will read this article and assume it's CAUSING Asperger's. I suggest that the chicken came before the egg, so to speak. People with Asperger's are more likely to be drawn to them than not.

  • darkdragonmage9

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 11:05 am PT

    i know mildly autistic people we have alot incommen scientifically speaking though 391 is not a large enough sample to conclusivly come to any determaintion

  • skeeter1255

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 10:02 am PT

    so we like to spend countless hours infont of the tv playing games....so what others spend time reading and other spend time outside. who really cares.

  • leonard88

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 9:44 am PT

    they should have done 1000 people

  • EcksBocks360

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 9:34 am PT

    Balidanny is right. I know plenty of people who call themselves "hardcore"(including myself), yet they have plenty of friends do things OUTSIDE the house, are pretty damn intelligent, and only about 2 out of the 10some hardcore gamers i know have Asperger's (3 if you count me).

  • dvros

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 2:00 am PT

    I have a form of Asperger's and this study does not help point out the much more needed positive outcomes of the more politically correct word syndrome [not disorder]. Going off tangent for now, I hope these people are looking for ways to treat the syndrome better.. perhaps maybe a cure even, and not a study that will blatantly attack people like this study did. Besides now... Ian Danforth of Walla Walla? With a location or whatever it is that has a name like that can't be taken seriously :]

  • darth-revan

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 1:56 am PT

    "people give you more respect for being who you are, not a poser,"

    Let me say that every person I have told about my Asperger's, outside of my family, has grown more distant because of it. They dont give you respect in any fashion, they treat you like a parriah or leper, and the only way to truly overcome it is to pretend your normal. Thats the only way I have gotten around in life, is by pretending to be a normal person who gives a damn about other peoples minute problems.

  • Mutarotation

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 1:48 am PT

    Damn! I'm an avid gamer AND studying to become an engineer... I guess all the girls were just after my handsome good looks then ;-)

  • MikefStktn

    Posted Apr 6, 2008 1:13 am PT

    Rainman, People's Court is at 4:00

  • Blue_Tomato

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 11:43 pm PT

    I usually look at playing games as the alternative to watching TV. People who play a lot of games usually don't watch TV a lot, and vice versa. Would it not be more dumbing to peoples mind if they sit and watch the screen without any interaction at all? With games you continuously test your reflexes, brain and all kinds of skills...

  • H2Painguin

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 11:13 pm PT

    I agree. I mean, think of all the jerks on Halo 3.

  • felshs

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 4:36 pm PT

    totally agree with this one.
    too much of anything = not so good.

    plus i never seen a normal gamer.....n yes...i`m insane >_

  • Proust

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 4:10 pm PT

    What every happened to real research. Hacks have taken over the sciences.

  • Some_One_Plays

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    The day I believe a scientific study is when they do one with pro gamers otherwise, no. They could have picked anyone who remotely played video games. Pro gamers play constantly and get paid to do it as well. Better yet do a study of people who review games since it's their job is to play through a game enough to give a score.


    As far as I know I haven't seen any problems with pro gamers or people who review games for a living, have you?

  • android_M

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 2:59 pm PT

    I find society's definition of normal to be offensive. I mean if we all aspired to be "normal" there would be no progress; just look at the people they try to use as examples that border on abnormal: mathematicians, computer scientists, and engineers. In case the "normal" people didnt notice--these are the type of people that make the world function and lead the way for human advancement. I think we need to be a bit more partial about how we see people who "suffer" from "psuchological disorders" such as autism. Just check this wiki link and read the first paragraph about autistic traits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum

    I think its possible that what we are seeing in autistic people is possibly just another step in mankinds (mental) evolution. Similiar to how some people think sickle cell anaemia is just another step in our physical evolution--people with sickle cell anaemia are immune to malaria--its possible the negative effects that come along with the traits are simply early sideeffects that are yet to be out evolved

  • JackfnBurton

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 1:40 pm PT

    Neurosis? Among gamers? No way. A quick read through the forums here should put THAT one to rest. Besides, being mental isn't even cool anymore. EVERYONE nowadays has some sort of 'syndrome'. Nobody on Earth is undisciplined, lazy or foolish any more, we have a built in excuse not to try - we all just have some sort of disease. Hooray! Take your pills and rejoice!!!

  • X_CAPCOM_X

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 1:14 pm PT

    "I bet i could do a study showing scientists are control freaks, and constantly argue about things until "their" study is valid"

    This is the one of the worst things that I have heard. Scientists study objectively, and the scientific method is always valid.

  • Ted_Zanarukando

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 1:06 pm PT

    This is antigaming madness. Our society has an outdated values system. It is not just gamers who can have the traits of Asperger's Syndrome. Nongamers can also have it. The study can be true for all hobbies, not just gaming.

  • Bart247

    Posted Apr 5, 2008 12:57 pm PT

    Let me ask you something, how desperate are these people to try and say something that isn't true? Like I said, played video games since I was 4, but back then, I wasn't really involved with the gaming industry back then. Now I am, and this really brings my blood to a boil.

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