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I’ve discussed ways to overcome addiction to the World of Warcraft, but in that article I only briefly touched on the reasons why people become addicted. I will look into that further here.

Different people get addicted for different reasons, but there are some common causes that exist in the appeal of the game.

Because first-hand knowledge and experience are most valuable, I will begin by relating my own experience.

As a 30-something husband and father in a rather unhappy marriage, the appeal was immediate and obvious. My life consisted of work and taking care of my kids, both of which I still do today and enjoy more than ever. But it also consisted of existing in a very unhappy and unhealthy marriage.

When I began playing WoW, it was my an escape from reality. I’ve heard meth users describe their use in the manner. Prior to WoW, my nights consisted of sitting out in the living room, watching TV with my wife. Sometimes we’d get into petty arguments. If it were a good night, I would simply be bored while watching TV shows I didn’t even care to watch.

But when I discovered WoW, I had a new choice. I could immerse myself in a world where I would visit exotic lands, cast spells, conquer dungeons with fellow players, develop a trade, and bring life to a powerful avatar that was entirely my creation.

Which sounds more appealing?

When I was in the game, I was able to escape from my problems, at least temporarily. This logic is exactly the same for alcohol and drug users: Escape.

So in my case, and probably the case of many men WoWo addicts my age, the reason I became addicted to WoW was the same reason many other addicts find their drug of choice: escape from the real world.

But there are teenagers and even pre-teens who become addicted, and these kids often don’t have an initial need to escape from reality. So why do they become addicted?

The appeal of the game cannot be underestimated. And it’s not “just” a game, it is also a social environment with over 10 million subscribers. It is a very powerful and intoxicating force when a 10-year old WoW user can become a dominant character among thousands of teenager and adult players around him.

I often played with the same group of people in “battlegrounds” where we faced off against the “enemy,” a team of players belonging to the opposing faction within the game. One of the most powerful members of our team was a player whose character was a warrior, wearing top-of-the line gear. He often ranked as one of the top players in the battlegrounds. We all marveled at him. One day I logged into the voice chat and finally heard this player’s voice… and was shocked to hear the voice of a young boy, maybe 11 years old.

On the screen I saw a menacing Tauren warrior, but the person behind the character was just a kid.

Imagine being able to allow an 11-year-old kid walk around in the body of an adult weightlifter, with people around him either praising him or being intimidated by him.

This is exactly the reason some kids become addicted. For them it’s not an escape, but they are able to live as grownups in a way, and assume the alter egos of a comic-like super heroes who are powerful and admired.

The social aspect enhances this. Kids can interact without fear, hiding behind their onscreen persona. The anonymity of being online allows them to be uninhibited, obnoxious, sexual, funny, or any of the things they might fantasize of being in the real world.

There are countless reasons why people become addicted to the World of Warcraft. To be fair, it’s a hell of a game. The graphics and music are vibrant, and the quests and game play are exciting and innovative. There is a never-ending quest to make your character more powerful, to learn new spells or trades, to make more virtual money, and on and on. And by the time a person hits the highest level and earns the best gear, chances are he’s made so many in-game friends that these people become his social life.

There are also millions of people who have been playing for years and have never become addicted.

The reasons people become addicted to the World of Warcraft are rooted in their real-world experiences. If you or someone you know may be addicted, read my article on overcoming addiction to the World of Warcraft.