Socio-psychological aspects, depending on the online games and the method of its diagnosis

The article analyzes a non-chemical type of the dependence on online games. The author considers classification and universal signs of dependence and draws the line between the two types of addictive behavior: Internet dependence and dependence on online games. In contrast to clinical characteristics used in the scientific literature, the author suggests a new criterion for identification of the dependence on the on- line games in the scientific psychological school A.V. Petrovsky — position "significant other" in real or virtual space. "Game addiction" — a new term, which is introduced in order to distinguish between the concept of gambling, dependence on online games and, dependence on the game, carried out without Internet connection. The author proposes and substantiates the socio-psychological research methodology aimed at its diagnos- tics. Empirical results that indicate differences in the level of Internet dependence and dependence on online games of respondents, depending on the factor of having "sig- nificant other” in the network, are represented