Game Addiction vs. Incapability to Contract Marriage

Abstract

In the colloquial language the term ‘addiction’ is used mainly with regard to people who abuse drugs (drug addiction), medicines (pharmacomania), alcohol (alcoholism) or cigarettes. In a broader context, it may refer to numerous other behaviours, e.g. gambling games, watching television, the Internet or sex. These are addictions that are frequently less known and described, not always even specified in the official classifications of diseases, such as ICD-10 and DSM IV. This article aims at indicating a ‘new’ problem which the employees of the ecclesiastical court already face – pathological game addiction. Firstly, pathological gaming will be presented as a mental disease, then the profile of a pathological player will be outlined. Furthermore, the aspect of the mental incapacity to contract marriage will be discussed. The judgments of the ecclesiastical tribunals in the subject matter will constitute the last part of the article. The result of the analyses (in the conclusion) will be practical suggestions for a judge in his dialogue with a judicial expert.