THE ETHICAL DILEMMA OF ADULT MALE GAMERS: A CRITIQUE OF VIRTUAL ESCAPISM AND SELF-DECEPTION

The article critiques the growing normalization of adult male gaming, emphasizing its detrimental effects on personal and societal responsibilities. It argues that many millennial men, who have not achieved traditional markers of success, retreat into video games as a means of avoiding real-world challenges. The article further critiques academic studies that justify gaming [17], labeling them as quasi-scientific and ethically compromised. It discusses the psychological underpinnings of this behavior through the lens of Jungian psychology, particularly the concepts of the Shadow [8] and Persona [8]. Moreover, it critiques the role of male psychologists who justify gaming habits, linking them to broader societal issues such as the spread of toxic masculinity and the erosion of academic integrity.