People should be aware of the symptoms of addiction if they find themselves spending a lot of money on claw machines, Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital psychiatrist Chang Chun-hung (張俊鴻) warned.
Most people can enjoy claw machines as an occasional activity, but those with tendencies toward addiction might find that they are unable to pull themselves away, even if they win prizes, Chang said.
Chang, who is also director of the hospital’s psychiatry department, cited the case of a 35-year-old man surnamed Lin (林), who he treated for severe addiction to claw machines.
Photo: Tsai Ya-hua, Taipei Times
Lin, who worked as an elevator repairman, spent all his money on the machines and even took out a loan to continue using them, Chang said.
Lin turned to theft to fuel his habit — for which he was arrested and charged, costing him his job, Chang said.
In a separate case, a 40-year-old construction worker surnamed Chang (張) spent all of his salary of about NT$20,000 on claw machines, Chang Chun-hung said.
However, after his money was gone and he still did not have the Bluetooth speaker he was after, the construction worker used a strong magnet to maneuver the gadget out of the machine, Chang Chun-hung said, adding that the owner of the arcade reported the incident to the police.
An explanation for the popularity of claw machines could be the psychological effects of the “cute” figurines they often contain, the psychiatrist said.
People are also drawn to bright and colorful objects, he said, citing research involving newborns.
The upbeat music that claw machine parlors usually play also motivates people to spend, he said.
Research has uncovered new triggers for pleasure centers in the brain, and there is speculation that claw machines trigger these, releasing dopamine, he said.
As with other addictions, those who become hooked on claw machines might find that they are drawn to more expensive or challenging machines, he said.
Furthermore, people might experience withdrawal symptoms or a sense of helplessness over their perceived irrationality, Chang Chun-hung said.
It is common for people with an addiction to have other conditions, he said. More than half of young people with addictions also show signs of depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Both conditions must be addressed at the same time for treatment to be effective, he said, adding that it did not necessarily require medication.
Those who find themselves unable to stop using claw machines — or stop other behaviors — should consult a psychiatrist, such as those at his hospital, he said.
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
RSS