Problematic Internet Use & Addiction

Problematic Internet Use & Addiction

1. Conceptualizing addiction

   • involves ingestion of psychoactive substances
     • e.g. drugs/alcohol
   • associated with certain behaviors
     • e.g. gambling/sex/exercise/video gaming/online chatting
   • implications for different groups of people
     • e.g. addicts/friends/family/practitioners/researchers/etc
       • predominantly negative implications

2. "a repetitive habit pattern that increases the risk of disease/associated personal and social problems"

   • immediate gratification(short-term reward)/ loss of control/ deleterious effects(long-term cost)/ high relapse rates

3. 6 components model of addiction

   • these components need to be present in order for a behavior to be described as addictive
     • 1. salience
       • when online activity becomes salient
         • most important activity in life
         • dominates one's:
           • thinking (preoccupations/cognitive distortions)
           • feelings (cravings)
           • behavior (deterioration of socialized behavior)
         • most online activities cannot be enjoyed concurrently with other activities
           • e.g. unlike smoking and drinking
         • reverse saliece
           • when prevented from engaging in the desired behavior, the thoughts of it dominate one's mind
     • 2. mood modification
       • subjective experience that comes as a consequence of engaging in particular activity
         • e.g. buzz/high
         • e.g. escape/numbing
         • psychological expectations VS physiological effects
           • activity used to produce reliable & consisted change in moods
             • escape from boredom
     • 3. tolerance
       • increasing amount of particular activity required to achieve the same effects
         • e.g. increasing the number of hours playing games
       • mood modification is no longer achieved with the same amount
         • clear evidence for psychoactive substance addictions
         • increasing evidence for behavioral addictions too
     • 4. withdrawal
       • unpleasant feelings/physical effects of quitting/suddenly reducing specific activity
         • 1. psychological (irritability/moodiness)
         • 2. physiological (nausea/sweats/headaches/insomnia)
       • well documented phenomenon in drug addictions
         • increasing evidence for behavioral addictions
           • e.g. gambling
     • 5. conflict
       • conflict arising between the "addicts" and those around them (interpersonal)/from within the addicts themselves (intrapsychic)
       • leading to a subjective loss of control
       • conflict leads to compromising of one's
         • personal relationships
         • working and educational lives
         • social & recreational activities
     • 6. relapse
       • tendency for repeated reversion to earlier patterns of behavior
       • old habits can be easily and quickly restored even after long periods of abstinence
         • e.g. smoking/drug use/pornography

4. when does your activity become addiction?

   • if all 6 components are present in someone's behavior, we can define the behavior as addictive
     • addiction VS healthy engagement/enthusiasm
     • 3 may factors
       • 1. individual differences (personality)
       • 2. social environment (situational/contextual factors)
       • 3. structural characteristics (nature of activity)

5. online gaming addiction

   • not yet recognized as addiction in the DSM5, but as the "condition for further study"
     • DSM5 criteria
       • preoccupation with games
       • withdrawal symptoms of irritability; anxiety/sadness/etc
       • development of tolerance
       • unsuccessful attempts to control the behavior
       • loss of interest in other activities
       • continued excessive use despite knowledge of psychosocial problems
       • deceiving others regarding the amount of time spent gaming
       • use of this behavior to escape/relieve a negative mood
       • jeopardizing/losing a significant relationship/job/educational opportunity
   • AKA "internet gaming disorder"
   • video game "addiction" starting to appear in the 1980s
     • e.g. compulsive involvement/withdrawal form society/physiological and psychological symptoms
     • the rise of the internet lead to games increasingly being played socially, as a part of a gaming community

6. negative consequences

   • psychological
     • increased stress
     • decreased academic achievement
     • absence of real-life relationships
     • sacrificing work/education/family time/sleep
     • loneliness/maladaptive coping/suicidal ideation
   • health/medical
     • epileptic seizures
     • auditory hallucinations
     • obesity
     • wrist pain
     • strain injuries
     • neck pain

7. prevalence rates

   • among general population
     • 1.7-10%
   • could be much higher among gamers
     • 17-34%
   • men are much higher among gamers
     • adolescents/young adult males
     • university students may be particularly at risk
       • risk factors
         • personality
           • neuroticism
           • introversion
           • loneliness
           • social inhibition
           • boredom inclination
           • sensation seeking
           • diminished agreeableness
           • aggression
           • narcissistic
           • personality traits
           • low-self esteem
           • low emotional intelligence
         • comorbidity
           • ADHD
           • anxiety disorders
           • depression
           • social phobia
           • school phobia
           • panic disorder
           • panic disorder
         • biological factors
           • increased activity in brain areas associated with substances addictions, dopamine system deficiencies

8. treatment

   • cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
     • getting rid of problematic cognitions
     • limiting game time
   • pharmacotherapy
   • boot-camp style clinics
   • self-help treatments
     • e.g. similar to alcoholics anonymous