A sickness or an excuse?
Introduction
The concept of addiction is as familiar to society as it is unclear. What truly defines and addict and why do we classify a great number of people as such? Is it possible to classify certain web dwellers to have an 'addiction' to the internet?
In our society today, many seemingly simple terms have been used to describe a number of sub-definitions. A perfect example would be the term 'sexual relations', which has been mentioned on every newspaper, radio, and TV station during the summer of 1998. When the technical definitions of words are required, society has a tendency to expand the direct definition, making the impact of it (the word or phrase) more generalized and unclear.
It is the first intention of this paper to give an acceptable definition of what it can mean to be an addict; then to demonstrate how the internet can be an addictive source to some people.
The Formal Definition of the word "Addict"
The word Addict as defined by Webster's New World Dictionary reads: 1 To give (oneself) up (to some strong habit): usually in the passive voice. 2 to cause (someone) to become addicted to some habit -n. 1 a person addicted to some habit, esp. to the use of a narcotic drug 2 an ardent supporter; devotee [a TV addict].
For the purposes of this paper, the two definitions that will serve best in proving internet addiction exists will be the first and last ones listed above. Reading this, one may reflect back to what was just mentioned a few paragraphs earlier regarding numerous meanings for words/phrases. The fact is an addiction does not always require a simple physiological dependency, but can also exist entirely in the mind where the activity becomes an obsessive/compulsive behavior that negatively affects other aspects in their life (e.g. their job, family, relationships).
For those who believe that an addiction exists purely through physical dependencies such as alcoholism, cigarette smoking, crack, cocaine, etc.; I would like to remind them that the underlying reason the physical addiction takes hold on most people afflicted with such dependencies is due to the mental dependency which developed to the drug. To better explain; a person afflicted with such physical dependencies (as just listed above), started the prolonged use of the drug because they enjoyed how it made them feel. Whether it be a beer or cigarette after work to relax, or a snort to raise one's confidence level in social settings- these 'uplifted' states of being can become a necessity to a person mentally well before one becomes physically dependent. If you've known anyone who's quit smoking before, ask them about feeling the obsessive need to either have something between their fingers, or in their mouth (e.g. eating more). Mental addictions can be extremely tough to break, arguably tougher than the physical for some people. I will cover more on this later.
Existing arguments in favor of "Internet Addiction"
Numerous psychologists have begun making observations and analysis on the subject of 'internet addiction'. Though, because it has not been formally classified by any criterion such as the DSM, that does not mean it doesn't exist. By typing 'internet addiction' in your browser, one could find any number of related pages ranging from jokes to professional psychologists' interpretations/analysis, and support groups.
There is another report on this subject matter that I will mention and give credit (where it's due) that also summarizes and lists similar recourses that were found on my own search. Out of respect, I will not include much of the data found on their report, and will strongly recommend viewing it-
There are many factors that may lead a habit into an addiction. Ever hear (or experience first hand) the feeling of needing to exercise every day to feel good? Ever go a day without a shower and feel horrible about it
(note: humans for thousands of years did not wash daily- before our generation)? As these two examples have become either physiological dependencies (endorphin high from working out), or cultural norms (compulsion to feel clean because society demands it), so can other habits that become needs for our psychological well being.The internet can be a form of release for some people that can be rather therapeutic as seen in the
Journal of Mud Research, published by Dr. Alan Schwartz (U. of Illinois, Chicago). In other cases however, users can take a more dedicated route to their hobby and procrastinate, ignore, and even disregard their 'IRL' (In ReaL) needs for their infatuation with the internet. As described by Doctors of psychology, Ivan Goldsberg(who coined the term Internet Addiction Disorder- IAD), and Kimberly Young(Director for the center or online addiction, U of Pittsburgh-Bradford), "IAD has gained acceptability as a clinical disorder that can negatively affect social, occupational, family and financial functioning". (I stress again the necessity of checking out each link listed to fully understand the evidence of internet addiction.)There are numerous web users who have posted their own personal web pages in attempts to alert others of the dangers of internet abuse. Two of them I've picked out in particular and have related to
are Kathy Rutowski's homepage, and Gary Tate. Each includes cases where people have experienced a nagging stress while being away from the internet. Also, both include a description of a social relationship established with one or more persons strictly through the internet, that holds a high standard to the particular person's values.An additional page is linked here, not only for it's amusement value, but for the fact that I have personally heard people mention wanting/desiring to do some of these things. Some people I have met online have admitted to doing a couple of these acts (I have even been guilty of referring to people being 'logged in' when they clocked in for work).
You Know Your Addicted To the Net When..I hope that by now you have checked all the links given throughout the paper. As I stressed, the information they contain is important.
Consider the first and last definitions from Webster's New World dictionary which dealt with "giving oneself up to a strong habit" and an "ardent supporter- devotee". In my opinion one could easily cross the line from using the internet as a hobby(or work place) to letting this 'virtual world' consume their time to the point of damaging the functionality of their IRL lives. As stated on Gary Tates report by Bill Cooley, a drug demand reduction specialist with Keesler's mental health clinic: Some doctors are skeptical of specialists who apply psychiatric terms such as "addiction" or "dependence" to what may seem to be a harmless hobby, but Cooley stressed, "Hobbies don't become harmful in terms of the attention they take away from important aspects of our lives -- addictions do."
If anyone may still feel obstinate about accepting the concept of internet addiction, let me ask you one question. 'If the argument made in this paper using the dictionary definition as well as numerous other Doctors/specialists theories doesn't convince you that an addiction can exist through the misuse/abuse of a hobby to the point of negatively impacting one's life(both social and physical), then what does addiction mean?'