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.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
PLANNED: The suspect visited the crime scene before the killings, seeking information on how to access the roof, and had extensively researched a 2014 stabbing incident The suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei on Friday had planned the assault and set fires at other locations earlier in the day, law enforcement officials said yesterday. National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) said the suspect, a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen (張文), began the attacks at 3:40pm, first setting off smoke bombs on a road, damaging cars and motorbikes. Earlier, Chang Wen set fire to a rental room where he was staying on Gongyuan Road in Zhongzheng District (中正), Chang Jung-hsin said. The suspect later threw smoke grenades near two exits
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS