Psychology in Life

Internet Addiction Disorder

Internet addiction disorder is an increasing problem as technology and internet access becomes better and easier to access. While it isn’t yet considered an official psychological disorder, clinics and psychiatrists are already offering services to treat the addiction.

Addiction

To be addicted to something is to be dependant on it. Whether it be a substance leading to physical dependance or a service leading to psychological dependance, they both heavily damage a person’s lifestyle.

Psychological dependance is characterised by the following:

• Constant and excessive use. To be on the internet over 6 hours a day is considered excessive. How long do you spend on the internet?
• Loss of sense of time while on the internet. How often are you surprised by the amount of time you’ve spent on the internet?
• Negative impact on life. Are you failing school? Is your job performance falling? Are you sacrificing time with friends to be on the internet?
• Withdrawal. When you’re not on the internet, do you look forward to the next time you’re able to go on the internet? Are you unhappy when you haven’t been on the internet in a long time?

Psychologically speaking, many of us have an addiction to something. Whether it be gambling, sex, drugs, nicotine, alcohol or the internet, addiction is not something to be taken lightly.

The Internet

Strictly speaking, internet addiction disorder is separate from game addiction and computer addiction, even though they all share similar psychological characteristics.

There are many reasons why someone can be considered addicted to the internet itself. Online communities, social networking sites, the blogosphere, online gambling, online shopping, online pornography and online gaming are the major factors of internet addiction.

Access to the internet is rapidly increasing as faster broadband speeds are being discovered. The limitations of the internet are constantly being stretched with the advent of audio chat and video conferencing. Truly, the technological era has only begun. As internet usage grows, so do the factors that make it addictive.

Easy access to information has made the internet a staple tool in everyday life, yet research into the psychological effects are still at the beginning stages. This can easily lead to a psychological addiction, something we should all avoid.

The Great Debate

Well, it’s actually not that great. Many leading psychologists have argued against internet addiction, claiming that the internet is only a medium. To be addicted to online gambling is an addiction to gambling, not the internet. Likewise, addiction to online shopping, online pornography are linked to their real life versions.

The argument that the internet being a medium actually highlights the addiction to online social activities. However, the classification of the internet as a medium does cause debate as addiction to the internet can be likened to an addiction to the park. It is impossible to be addicted to a place, and hence it is impossible to be addicted to the internet, or so it’s argued.

Why is it so easy to be addicted to the internet? Do I need psychological help?

As soon as you start preferring online friends over real friends, you should realise that you’re addicted. There are various as to why it is particularly easy to become addicted to the internet.

• Hyperfocus -> You tend to be more focused while on the internet.
• Emotional attachment -> Many activities on the internet require an emotional investment.
• Widespread access -> The key feature of the internet is the ease of access, including the addictive activity.
• Anonymity -> One of the most popular communities on the internet call themselves ‘Anonymous’.

Asian countries, especially China, have a large number of internet addicts. In fact, there have been numerous deaths from using the internet for long periods of time. China was the first country to seriously consider classifying internet addiction as an actual disorder.

Interestingly, training camps have been set up all over China to force teenagers out of their addiction. Think of a training camp for obese children. Now instead of restraining to eat, imagine the children restraining to use the internet. The addiction can be that serious.

There are lots of psychological help sites online, as well as dedicated psychiatric facilities for the extreme cases. Psychologists have found that most addictions solve themselves as the addict is likely to stumble across a page detailing internet addiction (like this blog post) and then going on to help themselves.

The internet is wonderful.

So, as much as I love the fact that you’re reading my blog, ask yourself: Am I spending too much time on the internet? Do I read too many blogs? What’s the time? That said, you should still regularly visit my site in healthy doses.

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