Psychologists disagree about whether computer obsession is even a real addiction. Although many therapists treat “computer addiction” as a disorder, other therapists assert that computer obsession is more like pathological gambling than true addiction, because it involves a behavioral failure to resist an urge rather than a physical dependence of some kind of substance.
There have been few studies on the fairly recent phenomenon of computer addiction, so there are few scientific facts to cite. However, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that seems to suggest that computer addiction not only exists, but may actually be close to becoming a worldwide epidemic. Most heavy computer users are aware of their own problem or know other people who seem to display all the symptoms of an addicted personality.
Like many drug users, computer addicts tend to lose track of time when online. They can spend entire days in cyberspace and not realize it. They go without sleep, forget to eat, stay home from work or school, and ignore their day-to-day responsibilities, all just like any other type of addict. They often find themselves wanting to get up and go about their lives, but can’t get away from their computer chairs.
Given the choice between the real world and the world of cyberspace, the virtual world wins.
Addiction to gambling, email, chat rooms
An important factor for computer addiction involves video games. Some games in particular have a notorious reputation for being hard to quit, like Doom, Lode Runner, and even the slow game of computer Solitaire. Many colleges are now beginning to include computer addiction workshops as part of their standard freshman orientation.
Other areas that are very difficult to ignore are email, chat rooms, and newsgroups. Many companies have recognized the potential for wasting vast amounts of time and are fighting back, denying employees access to the Internet, email, chat, or gaming while at work.
Different from watching TV?
People who are not convinced of the danger of the addition of computers point to other segments of society, especially those who watch television, and ask if it is more dangerous to spend the same amount of time on a computer than to sit on the couch watching whatever. us at this time. They say it’s not the computer that’s to blame, citing heroin addicts who don’t blame the needle for their addiction. After all, the Internet has been a boon to human beings, leveling the playing field between small towns and big cities, allowing people to work from home, and putting more information in the hands of more people than at any other time in history. the history of mankind.
Since it is a psychological problem and not substance abuse, the debate is likely to continue for some time, especially since the World Wide Web is still a relatively new phenomenon. However, that doesn’t change the fact that thousands of students are skipping classes because they spend too much time online and millions of hours of productivity are lost every day due to employees browsing the office.
In a final irony, if you look at your own computer habits and decide you need to seek help as a potential computer addict, the only support groups you’re likely to find are online.