Internet Addiction - India & China Cracking Down [Archive]

Broli

03-15-2007, 12:22 PM

this is an interesting topic!

first let me start by saying that no one considered gambling to be an "addiction" at first, but it is accepted that way now.

I am not sure that i would say addiction to the internet is possible. i would say that people can be addicted perhaps to aspects of the internet.

lets look at what defines addiction . .

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disord ers) (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Drug Dependence

Persistent and recurrent maladaptive drug use as indicated by at least three of the following:

1. tolerance (needing more to become intoxicated or
discovering less effect with same amount
2. withdrawal (characteristic withdrawal associated with
type of drug)
3. Using more or for longer periods than intended?
4. Desire to or unsuccessful efforts to cut down?
5. Considerable time spent in obtaining the substance
or using, or recovering from its effects?
6. Important social, work, or recreational activities given
up because of use?
7. Continued use despite knowledge of problems caused
by or aggravated by use.

Gambling

Persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by at least five of the following:

1. is preoccupied with gambling (e.g., preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble)
2. needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement
3. has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
4. is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
5. gambles as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression.
6. after losing money gambling, often returns another day in order to get even ("chasing" one's losses)
7. lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
8. has committed illegal acts, such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement, in order to finance gambling
9. has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling
10. relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling

so by reading those two descriptions we can see that they have elements of commonality.

so, can internet use meet some similar set of criteria? i am not sure if this is possible as a whole but in parts, perhaps

internet porn and cybersex
chatting/blogging/onlinge gaming

can.

however, u must look at the locations where these 'epedemics are occuring' these are more closed societies, where perhaps for the first time people are able to leave and explore the world while sitting in front of their computers. and perhaps this is a population that is primed to develop addiction to aspects of the online world.

this is interesting, when i have some time i will search a bit, but from the article it seems that conventional science does not consider internet addiction to exist.