““Internet Addiction”Internet Addiction”

Christin HaynesChristin Haynes

Internet AddictionInternet Addiction

Extreme internet use Extreme internet use could not be could not be diagnosed as an diagnosed as an “addiction” because “addiction” because according to the according to the psychological psychological definition of definition of “addiction”, it is based “addiction”, it is based on a chemical on a chemical dependency.dependency.

Online ActivitiesOnline Activities

There are many activities to do online.There are many activities to do online. ChattingChatting SurfingSurfing GamingGaming

ChattingChatting

Chatters are people Chatters are people who constantly use who constantly use chat services to have chat services to have conversations with conversations with others.others.

SurfingSurfing

Surfers are those Surfers are those people who use people who use search engines and search engines and follow the links from follow the links from page to page just for page to page just for fun, and not for any fun, and not for any practical purpose.practical purpose.

GamingGaming

Gamers are those Gamers are those who play video who play video games online with games online with people from around people from around the world.the world.

Stages of Addiction Stages of Addiction

John M. Grohol, Psy. D. believes the most John M. Grohol, Psy. D. believes the most major aspect of the internet seems to be major aspect of the internet seems to be the social aspect.the social aspect.

Following is his model of Pathological Following is his model of Pathological Internet Use.Internet Use.

Enchantment (Acclimation)Enchantment (Acclimation)

This involves fully immersing oneself in the This involves fully immersing oneself in the new environment in order to become new environment in order to become acclimated to the new surroundings.acclimated to the new surroundings.

Since this environment is so much larger Since this environment is so much larger than anything we’ve ever seen before, than anything we’ve ever seen before, some people get “stuck” in this stage for a some people get “stuck” in this stage for a longer period of time than is typical for longer period of time than is typical for new technologies.new technologies.

Disillusionment (Avoidance)Disillusionment (Avoidance)

The next stage occurs when people start The next stage occurs when people start to become disillusioned with, or lose to become disillusioned with, or lose interest in, the internet.interest in, the internet.

This is followed by an avoidance of This is followed by an avoidance of chatting and a decline in internet usage. chatting and a decline in internet usage.

Balance (Normal)Balance (Normal)

This stage occurs when the level of online This stage occurs when the level of online activity has reached a “normal” level.activity has reached a “normal” level.

The user is no longer immersing The user is no longer immersing themselves in the new environment themselves in the new environment because they feel that they have become because they feel that they have become well-acquainted with it. well-acquainted with it.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human NeedsHuman Needs

Self-actualization >Self-actualization >

Learning >Learning >

Interpersonal Contact >Interpersonal Contact >

Basic Biological Needs >Basic Biological Needs >

Basic Biological NeedsBasic Biological Needs

This is on the bottom of the pyramid and This is on the bottom of the pyramid and includes: sex, food, water, shelter, includes: sex, food, water, shelter, physical safety, and warmth.physical safety, and warmth.

This means that even something as cold This means that even something as cold and technological as the internet can fulfill and technological as the internet can fulfill a basic biological need since many people a basic biological need since many people use it for sexual purposes.use it for sexual purposes.

Interpersonal ContactInterpersonal Contact

This is on the second level of the pyramid This is on the second level of the pyramid and includes: social recognition and a and includes: social recognition and a sense of belonging.sense of belonging.

Many social needs can be fulfilled through Many social needs can be fulfilled through the internet; people make close friends, the internet; people make close friends, and sometimes even fall in love online.and sometimes even fall in love online.

LearningLearning

The third level of the pyramid includes The third level of the pyramid includes accomplishment, learning, mastery of the accomplishment, learning, mastery of the environment, and the self-esteem that arises environment, and the self-esteem that arises from one’s achievements.from one’s achievements.

We learn to do things online that we did not We learn to do things online that we did not know we could do before; ways to chat, games know we could do before; ways to chat, games to play, etc., and when we are successful we to play, etc., and when we are successful we feel pleased with our accomplishment. feel pleased with our accomplishment.

It’s a very addictive cycle that makes one want It’s a very addictive cycle that makes one want to learn and do more.to learn and do more.

Self-ActualizationSelf-Actualization

This is the highest level on the pyramid This is the highest level on the pyramid and is classified as the need for fulfilling and is classified as the need for fulfilling interpersonal relationships, to express interpersonal relationships, to express oneself, to satisfy one’s intellectual and oneself, to satisfy one’s intellectual and artistic needs by successfully engaging the artistic needs by successfully engaging the world around us.world around us.

The way this is done by expanding The way this is done by expanding yourself into a one-of-a-kind human being yourself into a one-of-a-kind human being and by becoming your “true” self.and by becoming your “true” self.