Computer Addiction
Table of Contents
Introduction
The dawn of the computer and internet access has passed, and the world-wide-web is accessible to over 2 billion global users1. This access has, in the last 10 years, increased fourfold2 (see footnote for website details that evidence growth) and become abundantly available through the wireless revolution of appliances; whereby mobile internet use has developed and grossly contributed towards the mass global access and usage of the internet. The convenience and portability of such technology means that there is also an increased awareness into the associated pathologies that one may encounter- whereby negative compared to positive consequences resulting from excessive computer use have been highlighted on opposite sides of the spectrum. This expansion, which is exponential and has momentum, should be examined from both perspectives; both positive and negative.
There are undoubtedly numerous benefits of having such a wealth of information and knowledge at ones disposal. However, reports of detrimental psychological and even physiological outcomes have been well evidenced and supported by current and archived research. Cumulatively the evidence is concerning and further study which examines possible contributions of IA may facilitate awareness and provide caution towards an individuals’ time spent online.
Addiction is a controversial and debated pathology, some disciplines regard non-chemical motivated behaviour to be not truly capable of causing addictive symptoms within medically defined parameters, meaning that pathological computer used would be void of this term ’addiction’(Treuer, Fábián, & Füredi, 2001; Zhou et al., 2011). However, as research shows, the neurological processes that show to be activated during TSO are synonymous with the same areas associated with reward(Ko, Liu, et al., 2009). The area also stimulated when pathological drug use is monitored and considered to be the mechanism that perpetuates drug
Introduction
The dawn of the computer and internet access has passed, and the world-wide-web is accessible to over 2 billion global users1. This access has, in the last 10 years, increased fourfold2 (see footnote for website details that evidence growth) and become abundantly available through the wireless revolution of appliances; whereby mobile internet use has developed and grossly contributed towards the mass global access and usage of the internet. The convenience and portability of such technology means that there is also an increased awareness into the associated pathologies that one may encounter- whereby negative compared to positive consequences resulting from excessive computer use have been highlighted on opposite sides of the spectrum. This expansion, which is exponential and has momentum, should be examined from both perspectives; both positive and negative.
There are undoubtedly numerous benefits of having such a wealth of information and knowledge at ones disposal. However, reports of detrimental psychological and even physiological outcomes have been well evidenced and supported by current and archived research. Cumulatively the evidence is concerning and further study which examines possible contributions of IA may facilitate awareness and provide caution towards an individuals’ time spent online.
Addiction is a controversial and debated pathology, some disciplines regard non-chemical motivated behaviour to be not truly capable of causing addictive symptoms within medically defined parameters, meaning that pathological computer used would be void of this term ’addiction’(Treuer, Fábián, & Füredi, 2001; Zhou et al., 2011). However, as research shows, the neurological processes that show to be activated during TSO are synonymous with the same areas associated with reward(Ko, Liu, et al., 2009). The area also stimulated when pathological drug use is monitored and considered to be the mechanism that perpetuates drug
References: Young, K. (2009). Internet Addiction: Diagnosis and Treatment Considerations. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 39(4), 241-246. Zhou, Y., Lin, F.-c., Du, Y.-s., Qin, L.-d., Zhao, Z.-m., Xu, J.-r., et al. (2011). Gray matter abnormalities in Internet addiction: A voxel-based morphometry study. European Journal of Radiology, 79(1), 92-95.