Internet Behaviour Questionnaire: Internet Addiction

Internet addiction

Is the Internet addictive?

The Internet is big, complex and growing, but is it addictive? The media reports of Internet horror stories, and reporters have also claimed that the Internet can be addictive. Is this just another sensation story, or can the Internet be addictive? The following articles and discussions in mailing groups shows that, due to heavy Internet use, the lives of some Internet users become affected (e.g., falling out of school, splitting up relationships, receiving hospital treatment). Some of them used MUD's (Multi User Dungeon), IRC (Internet Relay Chats); others mentioned that they were addicted to news groups, email, gopher or even the World Wide Web.

A search on the WWW using different search topics revealed different WWW-pages from people who describe themselves as addicted or dependent to the Internet, journalists who have written about Internet addiction and people who are occupied with doing research in Internet addiction.

WWW-pages and discussion groups:

"Addiction to the Net", New York Times, app. mid-February 1995

"Online addiction" by Chris Allbriton, Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer, Tuesday, June 27, 1995

"Computer Addicts Getting Hooked on Superhighway", Article by Fran Abrahms in the Melbourne Age, 26th July1995

"Is the Internet Addictive?"

"IRC Addiction or Fun"

"Center of Online Addiction"

Mailing List: Internet Addiction Support Group (i-a-s-g)

subscribe with e-mail to listserv@netcom.com, subject leave blank, message: subscribe i-a-s-g

Mailing List: Psychology of the Internet:

subscribe with e-mail to listproc@cmhc.com, subject leave blank, message: subscribe research Your-name

People occupied with Internet addiction:

Dr. Kimberly Young at the University of Pittsburgh founded the Center for Online Addiction [7] and is also conducting research about online addiction. She reports that Internet addiction has the same qualities as compulsive gambling, shopping, even smoking and alcoholism.

Dr. Young has gathered around 400 case studies, as well as a number of family members and relatives living with net addicts, and will be presenting her results this summer at the American Psychological Association Conference [9].

Common warning signs (in the following abbreviated as Young) according to Young are:

1. compulsively checking your email.

2.Always anticipating your next Internet session.

3.Others complaining that you're spending too much time online.

4.Others complaining that you're spending too much money online.

Dr. Mark Griffiths, a psychologist at the University of Plymouth in England, is studying "Internet addiction" in more depth. He says that of 100 people who responded to a question about the overuse of on-line services, 22 reported a cocaine-like "rush" and 12 said computer chat lines helped them to relax. He believes that new technology is an addiction, which has behaviour patterns like gambling or overeating.

Mr Ivan Goldberg, M.D. has coined a tern to describe addiction to the Internet - Internet Addiction Disorder and created a support group for Internet addicts.

Internet Addiction Disorder (in the following abbreviated as IAD) -- Diagnostic Criteria

The following is a description of IAD, courtesy of Ivan Goldberg, an

M.D. from New York City and moderator of the Internet Addiction

Support Group mailing list.

A maladaptive pattern of Internet use, leading to clinically

significant impairment or distress as manifested by three (or more)

of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:

1.1 A need for markedly increased amounts of time on the Internet to achieve satisfaction

1.2 Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of time on the Internet

2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:

2.1 The characteristic withdrawal syndrome

2.1.1 Cessation of (or reduction) in Internet use that has been heavy and prolonged

2.1.2 Two (or more) of the following (developing within several days to a month after

Criterion 1):

(a) Psychomotor agitation

(b) Anxiety

(c) Obsessive thinking about what is happening on the Internet

(d) Fantasies or dreams about the Internet

(e) Voluntary or involuntary typing movements of the fingers

2.1.3. The symptoms in Criterion 2 cause distress or impairment in social, occupational, or another important area of functioning

2.2. Use of the Internet or a similar online service is engaged in to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

3. The Internet is often accessed more often or for longer periods of time than was intended

4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control Internet use

5. A great deal of time is spent in activities related to Internet use (e.g., buying Internet books, trying out new WWW browsers, researching Internet vendors, organising files of downloaded materials)

6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of Internet use.

7. Internet use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical, social, occupational, or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by Internet use (sleep deprivation, marital difficulties, lateness for early morning appointments, neglect of occupational duties, or feelings of abandonment in significant others).

IAD, unlike alcoholism (which is a recognised medical addiction) is like pathological gambling, an out-of-control behaviour that threatens to overwhelm the addicts normal life.

Internet Addiction Support Group (i-a-s-g)

In the discussion group moderated by Ivan Goldberg, people are discussing their problems with the Internet, but also journalist or researchers which are searching materials about Internet Addiction.